Lisa R. Smith

Lisa Renee Smith, 64, Glenwood, formerly of Homewood, passed away unexpectedly--and peacefully—on January 31 while enjoying one of her favorite pastimes. watching old sitcoms on TV. She is survived by her mother, Karen M. Smith, Glenwood, and her brother Jay (Sharlla) Smith, Wildwood, Missouri. Her father, James A. Smith, died in 2010.

Lisa was born in Muncie, Indiana, and her family lived in Indiana, Kansas, California, Illinois (Park Forest), and Tennessee before settling in Homewood in 1968, where they lived for 30 years. Lisa graduated from Homewood-Flossmoor High School in 1981, received job training at Sertoma facilities in Tinley Park and Alsip, and worked at Goldblatt's and Wendy's.

A life member of the Homewood Historical Society, Lisa enthusiastically greeted visitors at the Dorband-Howe House museum on Saturday afternoons. She was a member of Izaak Walton Preserve in Homewood and cheerfully helped put address labels on the monthly newsletters.

While growing up, she enjoyed "solo" visits with her grandmother and great-grandmother in Anderson, Indiana. Among her favorite memories were winning a gold medal for her softball throw at a Special Olympics in Soldier Field, shaking hands with Mel Gibson at a Chicago film shoot, attending Beach Boy concerts, and taking four trips to Hawaii. Lisa had a quirky sense of humor and loved retelling jokes and stories, hugging her favorite people, eating Sunday breakfasts at area restaurants, and solving word-seek puzzles.

No services are planned. Her body will be donated for medical research. Donations in Lisa's name may be made to Homewood Historical Society (P.O. Box 1144, Homewood, IL 60430), Endangered Wolf Center (6750 Tyson Valley Road, Eureka, MO 36092), or Sertoma Star Services (4343 W. 123rd Street, Alsip, IL 60803).