M. Celene Smith

Champaign Marcella Celene Smith, 93, passed away on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, IL. She was born on December 31, 1927 in Nokomis, IL to Edward Francis and Marcella Margaret (Doughtery) Aylward.

Celene is survived by her children Anthony Edward (Dee) Smith, Richard Alan (Nancy) Smith, Dennis James (Beverly) Smith, and Alice Jean Taylor; nine grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and sister Loretta Kibler. She was preceded in death by her husband Myron Blaine Smith, great-grandchild Olin Smith; brothers Edwin Aylward, Leon Aylward, Arthur Aylward, Eugene Aylward, and sisters Rosemary Morris and Anna Lorraine Aylward.

Celene married Myron Smith on September 8, 1951. She was a licensed practical nurse. Celene was employed by Cole Hospital and she spent many years working in the labor and delivery department at Burnham City Hospital. She finished her medical career at Mercy Hospital. Celene loved watching the Cardinals, cross-stitching, playing bingo, playing cards, camping, traveling, and going on vacations. She loved to have her family around her.

A graveside service will be held at 1pm on Wednesday, October 13, 2021 at Grandview Memorial Gardens, 4112 W Bloomington Rd., Champaign, IL 61822. Arrangements have been entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Champaign, Illinois 710 N Neil St. Champaign, Illinois 61820. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made in Celenes name to the NICU unit of Carle Hospital.