Cheryl J. Smith

Cheryl Joyce Smith, 69, passed away on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 after a seven-year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her family in her apartment in Hawthorne, California where she was a manager for 28 years.

Cheryl was born on September 1, 1944 in Kankakee, Illinois to the late Mildred and Joseph Koplinski. She spent and enjoyed her younger years in Bradley, Illinois where many of her family members still remain.

She enjoyed being a waitress for many years and often worked several jobs at a time to provide for her children.

She was a beloved mother of four children, Richard, Darrell, Wayne and Michelle, and grandmother of four grandchildren, David, Zachary, Miranda and Samantha. Cheryl also is survived by her six siblings, Mike, Stan, Tom, Linda, Sally and Nancy and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. The entire family loved and adored Cheryl and her humorous spirit.

Cheryl enjoyed sightseeing, visiting family and friends, going to casinos, putting jigsaw puzzles together, playing with and watching her grandchildren, cooking, keeping a daily journal, listening to country music and traveling. She traveled extensively around the United States and, in the last year of her life, she was able to take her dream vacation to Europe.

A special thanks is offered to the many doctors and hospice nurses who assisted the family in caring for Cheryl in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Cheryl's name to the American Cancer Society.