Janel Marie Smith

On May 10, 2024, Janel Marie Smith passed away at Medical City Hospital in McKinney, Texas.  She was 69 years old.

Janel was born on August 25th, 1954, in Dayton, Ohio to Robert and Freda Smith.  She graduated from Beavercreek High School in 1972.  She went on to get her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Wright State University in 1976, and she was a charter member of the Wright State chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.  She received certifications for special education and taught remedial reading for grades K-12.

She moved to Houston, Texas in 1978, serving as a teacher for a short time and then became a Children’s Librarian at the Houston Public Library.  In 1988 she achieved her master’s degree in library science from the University of North Texas.   The remainder of her career she served as a Children’s Librarian for the Allen Public Library in Allen, Texas.   Janel was very passionate about teaching, was always helping others and she was an active volunteer in her community.

Janel was very sociable, and she seemed to make friends with everyone she encountered.  Her love of butterflies lends credibility to her being referred to as a “social butterfly”.  This love of friendship expanded into her acts of service as she volunteered at several nursing facilities through her clown ministry.  She was a devoted member of the catholic church and an active member of her single’s group.

Although she never married, she met her soulmate Tom Cook in 1996.  They spent six years together before his passing.  She was a loving sister and adoring aunt to her nieces.  Janel’s large extended family included aunts, uncles, cousins, classmates, sorority sisters, fellow church members and caregivers.  She never missed a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or any other special occasion.

Janel is survived by her brother Robert Michael Smith, his wife Karen, and her nieces Sara Klein (husband Jeremy), Rebecca Marie Smith and Allie Abernathy, as well as her grandniece Lila Abernathy.  She was preceded in death by her parents Robert Joseph Smith and Freda M. Smith.

There will be a mass held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, May 15, 2024, at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Plano, Texas. If you wish to join the mass via webcast, please visit: https://youtube.com/live/By1OAjmxav0?feature=share

A reception will follow.

She will be laid to rest at a graveside service with her parents at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Calvary Cemetery in Dayton, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that contributions be made in her name to National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) www.nami.org.