Debra Smyth, 59, of Normal, passed away at 7:55 a.m., Friday, June 5, 2015 at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington.
Her funeral will be at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal with Rev. Eric Powell officiating. Burial will be in Park Hill Cemetery, Bloomington. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Tuesday at Carmody-Flynn Funeral Home, Bloomington with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Scleroderma Foundation, Epiphany Church Building Fund or St. Patrick Church of Merna Building Fund. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com.
Debra was born October 17, 1955, the daughter of Robert and Eileen Finegan Griffin. She married John J. Smyth on September 3, 1994 in Bloomington. He survives.
She is also survived by two daughters, Eileen “Elly” Smyth and Isabelle Smyth and a granddaughter, Peyton Smyth, all of Normal; five sisters, Vickie Griffin and Teena Griffin of Normal, Roxy Griffin of Bloomington, Sheri Golliday of Lexington and Kim (Doug) Blaine of Normal; one brother, Tony (Becky) Griffin of Bloomington; three nephews, Lance (Katie) Golliday, Landon Golliday and Chase Griffin; 6 nieces, Hannah, Linnea and Clare Griffin, Adison Blaine and Jenna and Allison Smyth; as well as five great nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Deb attended Oakdale Elementary in Normal and graduated from Gorham High School in Gorham, Illinois. She worked 40 years at Illinois Wesleyan University as an Office Manager of Admissions. Deb spent many a day and night rooting on the Titans on the court, on the diamond, and on the gridiron, including three trips to Virginia at the NCAA Championships.
Whenever the daughters, nieces and nephews had an event there was Deb, the cheerleading spectator. Family was first and foremost, she relished the motherly role of growing up the oldest of seven children. A caretaker in life, now she is in God’s loving care.
