Bertha M Smith

Born May 9, 1921 in Pekin to Nicholas J. and Blanche (Peugnet) Petri, she married Samuel S. Smith on November 21, 1940 in Pekin. He died November 30, 1967 in Pekin. She also was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Scott Samuel Smith on September 17, 2001 in Naples, Florida and one brother, Ernest N. Petri.

Surviving are one brother, Carl J. (Jessie) Petri of Homosassa, Florida; her sister-in-law, Mardell M. Petri of Pekin; her daughter-in-law, Sharon Smith of Naples; three grandchildren, Virginia M. Smith, Samantha A. Smith and Schyler S. Smith, all of Naples; one nephew, Joel Petri of Pekin and three nieces, Suellyn (Trey) Herring of Jacksonville, Florida, Linda (Joseph) Svec of Chicago and Jill (Phil) Peterson of Shawnee, Kansas.

She was a 1939 graduate of Pekin Community High School.

Bertha worked for more than 20 years as the office manager for The Unland Companies in Pekin, retiring in 1989. She also had worked for Herget Bank in Pekin. In the early 1940s, she worked for Sears as manager at their first order store in downtown Pekin.

She was an active member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, where she was a member of the United Methodist Women. She also had served the church as a trustee and on several committees.

She was a member of Chapter A.S. of the P.E.O. Sisterhood. She also was a member of the Tri-S Club at the Pekin Y.W.C.A and a longtime volunteer for the United Way of Pekin and the Pekin Community Concerts Association.

She was an avid bridge player.

Her funeral will be at 2:30 p.m. Monday, December 11, 2006at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin. The Rev. Gary L. Ford will officiate. Visitation will be one hour before services Monday at the church. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin. Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Home, Pekin Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 503 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.