Adelaide E. Smith's Obituary
On a late autumn day in 1931 in Albany, New York Adelaide, or Duckie as she would come to be known, was born to Herbert and Mary Woodill. After a long and love-filled life, she left this world peacefully on January 11, 2023.
Duckie’s father Herbert was a conductor on the NY Central railroad, and her mother Mary practiced as a nurse. One of five children, she was raised through her formative years in the New York upstate area surrounded by a loving extended family. Duckie met her future husband Richard Smith in Ravena, NY when he dared to fish in her favorite local swimming hole, and after a relatively short courtship they married in 1952 proving love at first sight does indeed last forever. After the end of Richard’s enlistment in the US Navy, they established their home together in Chicago, Richard’s adopted hometown, and went about starting their family life together. Eventually they relocated to a new suburban home west of Chicago in Villa Park, and Duckie and Richard were blessed with eight children, though one child, Debbie, passed away shortly after being born. Duckie’s other seven children, Jim (and wife Cody), Julie (and husband David), John, Cindy (and husband Tom), Mark, Steve (and wife Errin) and Andy (and wife Debbie) survive her today along with her sister Joan (and husband Bill).
For most of her life, Duckie was a stay-at-home Mom, though over time as her children grew and some moved away, she found rewarding work as a school bus driver which she enjoyed. With the blessing of many children, Duckie was at her happiest with her large extended family group, and she was especially proud of and blessed by 18 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and grandpups. She loved spending time with them all, and she was always ready for a beach or snowmobile family vacation. The more the merrier was her mantra. Duckie and Richard moved from the Chicago area to North Carolina in 1997 after Richard retired, and she enjoyed making new, long-term friends there. She had quite a green thumb and found great peace and pleasure in gardening, her Koi fish pond and decorating both her home and her yard. Duckie was known to enjoy a good hot dog or reuben sandwich, a Chicago Italian beef or a large banana split. The holidays were an especially fun time for Duckie, and she loved creating a festive holiday atmosphere in her home for her family and friends to share. Grandma Duck was much loved by all and will be greatly missed.
The family will gather with friends to remember her at Duckie’s home, 1862 Rock Springs Circle in Denver on Saturday, February 4 from 2 pm until 5 pm. Burial will be private in Chicago, IL. The family requests that memorials be directed to Hospice and Palliative Care of Iredell County.
James Funeral Home is assisting the family, online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.
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