Mary Alice Smith

January 15, 1928  -  February 15, 2023

Mary Alice Smith, 95, of Bloomington passed away on February 15, 2023, at Martin Health Center. Mary Alice spent her entire adult life in Bloomington with the last eight years at Westminster Village.

Mary Alice was born January 15, 1928, to Karl and Marian Stoll in Goshen, Indiana and was delivered by her grandfather, Dr. W.B. Page. She was named after her grandmothers Marie Stoll and Alice Page. She married Bernard Stone Smith of San Jose, Illinois on February 11, 1950.

Mary Alice grew up in Pekin, Illinois where she attended Douglas Grade School, Pekin Junior High and graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1946. Her interest in nursing was influenced by her grandfather, Dr. Page and her mother, who was a registered nurse. She graduated from the Mennonite School of Nursing in Bloomington in 1950 and went on to serve as a registered nurse and nursing supervisor at Mennonite and BroMenn Hospitals, retiring in 1996. She was named Mennonite’s employee of the year in 1975 and received the same honor in 1990 at BroMenn. She served as a Red Cross nurse from 1973 -1996 and as a board member of the Mennonite School of Nursing.

Mary Alice took an eight-year hiatus from nursing to raise four children with Bernard in Bloomington. She was very active supporting her children’s education and activities and served as a teachers’ aid in the early years and President of the PTA in later years of their grade schooling. She was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church where she was on the administrative council and served as a Stephen Minister for three years.

Mary Alice was proceeded in death by her parents, her sister, Joann Kirk of Huntsville, AL, and her husband of 60 years, Bernard. She is survived by her four children - Berna (Dennis) Duffield of Joliet,IL, Ed (Carol) Smith of Southport, NC, Lisa (John) Larkin of Hudson, IL, and Scott (Mary Colombo) Smith of San Rafael, CA. Also surviving are eight grandchildren - Dana (Phil) Theobald of Kirkland, WA, John (Sarah) Larkin of Gallatin, TN, Michael (Kelly) Larkin of Chicago, Charlie (Shirley) Larkin of Normal, IL, Michael (Meredith) Smith of Wheaton, IL, Matthew Smith of Chicago, Nathan (Mackenzie Possee) Smith of Seattle, WA and Sara Smith of San Luis Obispo, CA; and six great grandchildren - Parker, Cameron and Carson Larkin, Finn Theobald, Emma and Lucy Larkin. A seventh grandchild - Baby Smith - is expected on April 30.

Mary Alice was passionate about her nursing profession. Whether as a nursing supervisor, or a patient, she was always quick to recognize courteous and efficient care. Even many years after her retirement, she continued to get the biggest satisfaction from encouraging aspiring nurses.

Visitation will be held for family and friends at the Calvert & Metzler Funeral Home, 1115 E Washington Street, Bloomington, IL on Thursday, March 2, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. followed by a chapel service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Eastlawn Memorial Gardens in Bloomington.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mary Alice's memory either to support the Westminster Village Foundation or Wesley United Methodist Church. Checks can be made out to “Westminster Village Foundation” at 2025 E Lincoln Street, Bloomington, IL 61701, or to “Wesley United Methodist Church” at 502 E. Front Street, Bloomington, IL 61701