Carmen M. Smith

Beloved wife of Dennis R. Smith; Devoted mother of Jennifer (Eric) Styer, Dennis F. (Sally) Smith and Steve (Katie) Smith; Loving daughter of the late Francisco and Maria Diaz; Dear sister of Richard
(Nancy) Diaz and the late Francis Diaz; Dear grandmother of Luke, Madiand Sam Styer, Carmen Louise, Penny, Fiona and Donovan Smith; Dear aunt of Anne, Susan, Richard, Trish and Mike.

Carmen’s favorite color was magenta, a color as vibrant and fun as she was.

Born and raised on the Northside, Carmencita, a proud Chicagoan, was exposed to all the culture and wonders the city has to offer. Something she loved sharing with her family and friends through
countless adventures to the city for shows, museum visits, lunches and dinners.

Carmen married her college sweetheart Dennis. The strength of their love carried them through 55 years of wedded bliss and blessed them with three children, one dog, seven grandchildren, two grandpuppies, and many dear friends.

A devout Catholic, Carmen’s faith was a cornerstone in her life. She was kind, loving and generous and spent countless hours volunteering with the Church; designing and creating vestments and banners; serving as a Eucharistic Minister; spearheading creative ways to share her faith with others.

Proud of her Hispanic heritage, Carmen was never at a loss for words, whether they were in English or Spanish. She celebrated her heritage as a bilingual teacher at Lake Park Elementary school in Addison. She loved teaching in a dual language classroom and the impact she had on her students’ lives reflected that love.

Loved by many, Carmen’s last moments were spent at home surrounded by her family.

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you consider making a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association ( alz.org ) in her name.