Bernadette V. Smith

SMITH, GOLDSMITH, MCELMEEL, KRAUS, HEITZ, RIES, WAITE

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 12/3/2014 at 17:02:52

From the December 14, 2009 edition of the Dubuque Telegraph Herald

DYERSVILLE, Iowa -- Bernadette V. Smith, 94, of Good Neighbor Home, Manchester, formerly of Dyersville, was promoted from this life on earth to enter into the kingdom of Our Heavenly Father at 12:05 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at Regional Medical Center, Manchester.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at St. Francis Xavier Basilica, Dyersville, with the Rev. Robert Gross officiating. Burial will be in St. Paul's Cemetery, Worthington. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Reiff Funeral Home, Dyersville, where there will be a wake service at 7:30 p.m.

She was born on Feb. 8, 1915, in Delhi, daughter of Ed and Nellie (Goldsmith) McElmeel. She received her education in the Ryan and Delhi area schools. At the age of 54, she attended Iowa State University in Ames, where she received a degree as a dietitian.

She married Clarence P. Smith on Feb. 12, 1936, at St. John's Catholic Church in Delhi. The couple traveled by bobsled to their wedding dance in Worthington; he preceded her in death in 1968.

She was employed at Oak Crest Manor and later at Dyersville Hospital as a dietitian until her retirement in 1977.

She was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Dyersville, a member of the Basilica Resurrection choir, the Basilica Bible Study Group, the Three Musketeers, and the neighborhood card club.

Bernadette was a great mother and wife because her family was the world to her. She was a tolerant, kind, loving, principled and ethical person. She cared deeply for those around her and was loved by her friends almost as much as she was by her family. Listed among her accomplishments was receiving her driver's license and learning to drive at the age of 52, and wearing out 25 pairs of high-heeled dancing shoes. Bernadette's favorite times were the annual Christmas parties that her daughter, Betty Ries, put on and the neighborhood Forkenbrock Christmas party.

Surviving are eight children, Janaan (Walter) Kraus, of Monticello, Kay (Elmer) Heitz, of Farley, Kenny (Cathy) Smith, of Hopkinton, Gary (Marilyn) Smith, of Manchester, Betty (Jerry) Ries, of Earlville, John (Mary) Smith, of Ryan, Mary Ellen (Jim) Waite, of Cedar Rapids, and Mark (Mary) Smith, of Marion; 47 grandchildren; 77 great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandchild; two sons-in-law, Dick Riniker, of Farley, and Kenny Zangerle, of Hopkinton; and a sister, Millie Hunter, of Waverly, Minn.

She also was preceded in death by her parents; two daughters, Maxine Zangerle and Shirley Riniker; three sisters, Margaret Besler, Mary Nolan and Gertrude Esterling; and a brother, Justin McElmeel.