JEAN SMITH

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Jean Smith, 84, on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998 at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, Ont.
Jean was born Feb. 9, 1914 in Devlin, Ont. to the late John and Olive Matheson, and lived all her life in Devlin and Fort Frances. She was a member of Knox United Church and the U.C.W. of Fort Frances. She also was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, and a member of the founding committee and past-president of the Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living.
Jean was united in marriage April 18, 1932 to William R. (Bill) Smith, who predeceased her July 19, 1988. She also was predeceased by a sister, Marjorie Martin (April, 1998), and son-in-law, Victor Ballan.
Jean will be lovingly remembered in the hearts of her beloved family, sons, Keith Smith and Randall Smith; daughters, Faye and husband, Lino Gasparini, all of Fort Frances, Ont., and Barbara Ballan of Port Alberni, B.C.; six grandchildren, Steven Gasparini and Tina Hile of Anchorage, Al.; Chris Gasparini and wife, Cindy, of Kenora, Ont., Lisa and husband, Gary Teeple, of Emo, Ont., Guy Ballan and Rossane Vargas of Vancouver, B.C., Don Ballan and wife, Lori, of Hundred Mile House, B.C., and Kim Ballan of Port Alberni, B.C.; six great-grandchildren, Jeff Teeple of Emo, Ont., Taryn and Carli Gasparini of Denver, Co., Kaitlyn and Erin Gasparini of Kenora, Ont., and Samantha Ballan of Hundred Mile House, B.C.
Jean also will be lovingly remembered by her brother, Robert Matheson and wife, Rita, of Calgary, Alta., niece, Janine and husband, Marc Stallings of Lake Forest, Cal.; nephew, Peter Martin and wife, Myrna, of Toronto, Ont.; special cousin, Geri and husband, Tom Kelly, and their children, Jennifer and Shelan of Burlington, Ont.; special life-long friend, Mildred Lalonde of Fort Frances, Ont.; and numerous friends and neighbours throughout the district.
Cremation has taken place in Thunder Bay, Ont.
Memorial services were held Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998 at 2 p.m. at Knox United Church in Fort Frances. Rev. Patrick Playfair officiated, with interment at a later date in Riverview Cemetery in Fort Frances.
In lieu of flowers, memoriam donations may be made to the Fort Frances and District Association for Community Living, P.O. Box 147, Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 3M5, or to Knox United Church, 340 Church St., Fort Frances, Ont., P9A 1E1.
“I’m free”
Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free.
I’m following the path God laid for me,
I took His hand, when I heard Him call
I turned my back and left it all.
I could not stay another day
To laugh, to love, to work or play.
Tasks left undone must stay that way,
I found that place at the close of day.
If my parting has left a void
Then fill it with remembered joy,
A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
Ah yes, these things, I too, will miss.
Be not burdened with times of sorrow,
I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow,
My life’s been full, I’ve savoured much,
Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
Perhaps my time seemed all too brief,
Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
Lift up your heart and share with me
God wanted me now, He set me free.
(Author unknown)