Mary Jeannette "Prestley" Smith

Mary Jeannette (Prestley) Smith, age 72, died peacefully and gracefully at her Dublin home surrounded by loving family on Friday, January 14, 2011 after a two-year battle with cancer. Born July 8, 1938 in Ashtabula, Ohio, Mary graduated from Ashtabula High School in 1956, and received a bachelor’s degree in education from The Ohio State University in 1960. She spent the first five years of her professional career in the Columbus Public Schools system as a kindergarten teacher, followed by 10 years in the Painesville Township School system, also teaching kindergartners, while raising her own family in Northeast Ohio with her beloved husband of 50 years, Francis C. Smith. She went on to receive a master’s degree in childhood development and education in 1990 from The Ohio State University, graduating alongside her son as he received his undergraduate engineering degree. Mary selflessly devoted much of her adult life to the education of young children, including her own children as well as those in and around the communities in which she lived. From 1990-1998, she worked for the Franklin County Schools’ Parents as Teachers Program, where she visited homes and taught moms and dads how to become better parents to pre-school aged children, educating them on the ways they could have a lasting impact during the crucial early developmental years of their child’s life, from birth to three years old. She also was a devout Catholic who readily shared her love of the faith and its teachings with her family and all those around her. She was a founding member of Saint Cyprian Parish in Perry, Ohio. She also was an active parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Madison, Ohio, where she served on the Parish Council. She and Francis participated in Marriage Encounter and in Catholic Renewal at Immaculate Conception, which Mary later led. They also participated in the Pre Cana ministry at Immaculate Conception, helping couples young and old, blend their love for each other with their love of the faith, thereby strengthening their marriages. Upon moving to Dublin in the 1980s, Mary became a founding member of Saint Brigid of Kildare Parish in Dublin. She was an active member of the Guitar Group in the infancy of the church, which led the parish in musical worship during weekly masses. Additionally, she was a member of the Dublin Singers, the Painesville Women’s Synchronized Swimming Club (Aquanauts), The Ohio State University’s President’s Club, the Country Club at Muirfield, and the Ladies Auxiliary, Franklin Country Chapter of the Ohio Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE), where she held a one-year post as president. She also served at the Elizabeth Blackwell Center as a volunteer, bringing communion to recovering patients and supporting young mothers after delivery as they bonded with their newborns. While giving so much through education to the communities and children around her, Mary’s greatest joy and the light of her eyes were her grandchildren. Being a part of their lives and watching their individual growth and development was an immense privilege for her. She especially relished celebrating alongside of them as they received their many sacraments within the church, another way she taught them God’s love for them, while sharing her love for them at the same time. Preceded in death by her parents, father, John Stephen Prestley, Sr., and mother Elizabeth Mary (Votek) Prestley. Mary is survived by her constant companion and trusted friend, husband Francis C. Smith; three children, daughter Gretchen Peterson (Jamie) of Dallas, TX; daughter Rita Smith (David Franco), of Martinez, CA; and son Frederic Smith (Susan) of Dublin, Oh; Seven grandchildren: Madeline (19), Aaron (14) and Jacob (10) Peterson; Elizabeth (10) and John (5) Franco; and Emily (16) and Lucy (14) Smith; brother, John S. Prestley Jr. (Barbara) of Russellville, KY; brother-in-law, George Smith (Gretchen), Longwood, FL; sister-in-law, Rita Jane Smith, Dublin; and many nieces and nephews. Family and friends may call from 2-4 & 6-8pm. WEDNESDAY at the RUTHERFORD FUNERAL HOME AT POWELL, 450 West Olentangy St., Powell, OH 43065 (614)-792-1471, where Prayer Service will be held at 7:30pm. (The funeral home is located on W. Olentangy St./Powell Rd./SR 750 ¼ mile east of Sawmill Parkway.) Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. THURSDAY, JANUARY 20, 2011 at ST. BRIGID OF KILDARE CATHOLIC CHURCH, 7179 Avery Rd, Dublin, OH 43017 with The Reverend Mark Summers, Celebrant. Interment will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, Lewis Center, OH. If they choose, the family kindly suggests a memorial contribution to St. Brigid of Kildare School, 7179 Avery Rd., Dublin, OH 43017. Send condolences for the family to: www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com.