Dolores Smith

Dolores Nadine (Wasko) Smith was born November 10, 1937, in Georgetown, IL as the first-born child of Herschel and Pauline (Gannon)Hughes.

Dolores spent her entire life in Georgetown and graduated from Georgetown High School in 1955. While in high school, Dolores was the drum major in the marching band, sang in the choir and was active in the GAA. After graduation, Dolores attended Illinois State University to achieve her lifelong goal of becoming a teacher. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1959 and soon began teaching in the Danville School District. While at Illinois State, Dolores married the love of her life, Joe Wasko who preceded her in death in 2002.

Together they built a wonderful life with Dolores teaching and also supporting Joe running the Wasko Family Ben Franklin Stores and Fazio Department Store. Dolores would continue her education at the University of Illinois where she earned a Masters in Education in 1978 Early in their marriage, they were blessed with two wonderful daughters, Paula Wasko who passed in 2020 and Cindi (Greg) Learnard. After starting a family, Dolores took a break from the classroom to devote more time to her girls.

After Paula and Cindi became school age, Dolores returned to the classroom in the Georgetown School District where she held many positions over the years including librarian, teaching art and also language arts. Dolores was renowned for teaching her students the "prepositions" in a catchy chant that made them easy to remember and was frequently greeted by former students who would recite that chant. She devoted the rest of her career to the students of Georgetown until her retirement in 2001.

Dolores spent many of her summers traveling the world with friends and learning more about her family heritage. She enjoyed making her hometown a better place to live by knitting hats for children in need, serving on the Georgetown Library Board and Daughters of the American Revolution. Dolores had a wonderful singing voice and in her younger days enjoyed singing at many weddings and other activities. She was also an accomplished painter and painted many portraits that she proudly displayed in her home.

Dolores loved to attend the activities of her grandchildren and was known to reward them with candy after every game! She is survived by grandchildren Morgan (Kaylee) Learnard, Joel (Hayley) Learnard and Ross (Jaylyn) Learnard. She is also survived by great grandchildren Faye, Banks, Effie, Beau, Ella and Loula and nephew Brett (Tonya) Hughes.

She is rejoicing in heaven with great granddaughter Monroe Grace Learnard, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Roger Hughes and nephew Bart Hughes.

A chance encounter at her 50th class reunion led to a relationship that later ended in marriage to Kent Smith. He survives.

Dolores loved her family and enjoyed sharing many stories from her childhood. She was called home to her Savior on Saturday October 24th at 7:35 am at OSF Medical Center in Danville. She will be missed by all who knew her!!

Funeral Services: Visitation Wednesday November 4th from 1O am to noon at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center’s Houghton-Leasure Funeral Chapel in Georgetown. Funeral to follow. Officiating: Terry Stal. Burial in Georgetown Cemetery. Memorials: Georgetown Library, Georgetown Cemetery and Georgetown Heritage Museum. Please join Delores’s family in sharing pictures, videos, and memories on her tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com