Rachel Florence Smith

Rachel Florence (Tapia) Smith, 76 yrs. of Machesney Park, IL. passed unexpectedly and was called home to our Heavenly Father on September 28, 2019 @ Mercy Health. Born November 2, 1942 to Jesus Tapia & Patricia Mendez Tapia in Rockford, IL. The eldest of 12 children. Married Stephen R. Smith who sadly passed away in 2004. Rachel, our sweet mother, was raised in Rockford, attending Rockford schools, receiving her associates from Rockford Career College. She worked as a bookkeeper for many Rockford businesses for many years before retiring. Rachel was an avid reader, always with a book in her hand & loved her crossword puzzles. She was a great dancer in her teens having won many & most area dance competitions with her dance partner Neal Wolfe. She was named Rockford Mexican Queen in 1958 @ 16 yrs old. Having loved going to garage sales she was named "The Garage Sale Queen" by the local paper many yrs ago. Her love for her children & grandchildren can't easily be put into words, they were all so very precious and important to her. She so looked forward to all the visits with them. She loved all the fishing trips & road trips with her love, Bob, when they were able to go. She looked forward to her visits to Beaver Dam, WI. To visit family and her memories of all the visits to Galesburg, IL to enjoy time with her large family there. She spent many summers there as a teen & young adult with very fond memories. She always had a wonderful, welcoming smile the minute anyone walked through her door, loving to visit with all. All phones calls to mom lasted for hours, even if just to say hello they would turn into long comforting conversations. Her love & knowledge of the Bible had always shown in her faith and her heart. Mom was most often found in her kitchen cooking one of her wonderful, most delicious meals for whoever would happen to stop by. She was the BEST COOK EVER!!! She would help anyone that needed help in her special loving way, whether it be material, spiritual, emotional, she would try to help in any way she could, that was the wonderful woman she was, never expecting or asking for anything in return. She was the Greatest mother & gramma a child could ever be blessed with. We love and miss you mom, there is an emptiness in our hearts & our lives that can never be filled. She will forever be missed by her family and all that had the privilege to have known her. She leaves to grieve her passing...Her common law husband of 42 yrs. Robert (Bob) Bird, who said "loving our mother was the easiest thing he's ever done. Her Children: Mary (Chris) Moore of Rockford, Barrett Smith of Machesney Park, Jeffery (Connie) Smith of Beaver Dam, Wi., William Smith of Machesney Park & Ramona (Gary) Phillips of Mt. Morris, IL. Grandchildren: Jennifer (James) Jessie, Jennette (Jason) Pruitt, Rachel (J.R.) Davis, Kimberley Mailand, Matthew ( Kelsey) Smith, Adam (Jen) Smith, Rena (Dewitt) Jordan, Cori Smith, Ashley Brown, Jeffrey Phillips, Christian Phillips. Great-Grandchildren: Kamrine (Juan) Rodrigues, Isabella (John) Morris, Nicole Pruitt, Danielle Pruitt, Samantha Pruitt, Athena D. Smith, Jaylen Smith, Jovani White, Anniah White, Mackenzie Brown, Arria Phillips, Christian S. Phillips. Great-Great-Grandchildren: Sophia Cardona, Julianna Rodrigues, Gracelynn Morris. Sisters: Patricia Rodriguez, Esther Tapia, Eleanor Lyford, Ruth (Betty) Rush. Brothers: Jesse (Sandra) Tapia, Daniel (Jane) Tapia, David Tapia, Elias Tapia, Robert (Lori) Tapia, numerous nieces & nephews & lifelong best friend Barb Blade of Springfield, IL. Predeceased by Grandson: Jeffrey Miles Smith II, parents & sisters: Rebecca Howe & Esparanza (Hope) Tapia. The family would like to thank Dr. Montoya Taylor and his team for all of their efforts and the staff of Mercy Health ICU for the care of our mother and their compassion in her passing, May God Bless You All!!

We love you Mom, you are now our Angel!

Celebration of Life Funeral Service at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 5 at Sunset Funeral Home, 8800 N. Alpine Rd, Machesney Park. Visitation at 9 a.m. until time of service. Pastor Charles Waggoner officiating the service. Burial at a later date. To share condolences and memories please visit www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com