Deb Smith

With a smile that could light up a room and an infectious laugh, Deb Smith lived a life rich in faith, family, and friends. She was a woman of faith who led with her heart in all things, never hesitating to give her love and support to others. Deb cared deeply for her family and friends and always put others ahead of herself. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend, Deb was a powerful role model for all who were blessed to know her.

1956 proved a year of vibrant growth, with consumerism taking off in previously unimaginable ways. For the first time in history, seven out of ten families in the US owned an automobile and the new home market exploded as the baby boom continued to proliferate. McDonald's, TV dinners, cans of Coca-Cola, Lego, Velcro, and The Mickey Mouse Club all became household mainstays, while Rock and Roll music continued to grow in popularity with more idols, including Elvis Presley, Bill Haley and the Comets, Chuck Berry and The Platters. This time of hope grew even brighter in the home of James and Mary (Holwerda) Dice as they welcomed their daughter Deb to their family on July 25 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Deb's childhood years were spent growing up in Alger Heights in Grand Rapids. Her father sold shoes for VanHoeks before embarking on a successful banking career in the Trust department at Old Kent Bank. Her mother earned a nursing degree and then worked as a receptionist in a dentist's office before becoming a full-time homemaker. Deb and her siblings, David, Kathy, John, and Amy, were very close growing up, and the family enjoyed camping trips with their cousins and just really enjoyed spending time together. As her siblings began their own respective families, they all came together and celebrated countless birthdays, holidays, and other family events that always brought joy to everyone especially to Deb.

Following her early school years at Seymour Elementary School, Deb attended Grand Rapids Christian High School. Though she was pretty shy, Deb enjoyed school. She was known for being very kind, always smiling and laughing. As an eleventh grader, Deb's friends dared Randy Smith to go out on a date with her. She accepted the date and never looked back being married for 49 years, just one year shy of their golden anniversary.

After graduating with the class of 1974 and dating Randy for a year and a half, the couple joyfully married on November 6, 1975, at Burton Heights Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. They celebrated their nuptials with a honeymoon in Niagara Falls and made their first home in an apartment above Kett's Hearth and Home on Burton St. in Grand Rapids.

In May of 1976, Deb and Randy were delighted to become parents when their daughter, Jamie, was born. Son Jason joined the family in 1979, followed by daughter Taryn in 1986 and daughter Katherine in 1989. Deb was a devoted mother who ensured her family had a loving and supportive home firmly rooted in faith and family values. The family attended Westview Church for many years and then became members of Sunshine Community Church. While Deb disciplined her children when necessary, she loved and protected them fiercely. Her children always knew she loved them and would be at their side no matter the circumstance. She also loved attending all of the sporting events for her kids and she may or may not have been the loudest fan in the stands. The love for her family was also demonstrated in long letters she would write to her youngest sister, Amy, sharing stories of her kids. The kids also enjoyed Deb's love for cooking! Her goulash, pot roast, chili and tater tot casserole are just a few of the best meals she made. Spending weekends as a family at her parents' trailer at Holiday Haven in Holland and going to the beach was always a treat. The family also shared wonderful family vacations in special places, including Mackinac Island, Disney, Silver Lake, and Sleeping Bear Dunes. Deb also loved and cherished her trips to Boston whether with family or with her sister, Kathy, to visit her younger sister Amy.

In addition to raising her children and tending the busy home, for most of her life Deb waitressed at the Peninsular Club in Downtown Grand Rapids. She also owned her own cleaning business that afforded her flexibility to also tend to her kids and attend the countless sporting and school events that brought her much joy. Always willing to give her time and talents in service of others, Deb volunteered at Vacation Bible School and in the church nursery. Deb loved musicals, Christian and folk music, and was gifted with a great voice. She loved singing in the church choir and was a part of a small folk group that covered Peter, Paul, and Mary songs.

A woman who enjoyed life's simple pleasures, Deb's favorite ways to spend time included being with her kids, grandkids, and girlfriends, reading, or singing. Her favorite authors were Patricia Cornwell, Danielle Steele, J.K. Rowling, and C.S. Lewis. She loved eating Chinese food from China Chef Chinese Restaurant while Peppermill Grill and Amore Trattoria Italiana Restaurant were also favorite places to enjoy a meal.

Though Deb died as a result of her courageous fight with Alzheimer's Dementia, her true legacy is the way she chose to live. Deb embraced each day as a gift and every person as a friend, met life's challenges with grace and kindness, and found strength in her unwavering faith. An inspiration for how to live wholeheartedly, Deb's legacy of love, laughter, and steadfast companionship will long live in the hearts and lives of those she so dearly loved.

Deborah Sue Smith, "Deb," age 67, of Grand Rapids, passed away in the comfort of her home and in the company of her family on Saturday, July 20, 2024.

She was born in Grand Rapids in July of 1956 to the late James and Mary [Holwerda] Dice.

Deb is survived by her husband of 49 years, Randy Smith, and their children: Jamie Smith, Jason Smith, Taryn (Nate) Lukasik, and Katherine Smith; eight grandchildren: Dominic, Noah, Jayden, Eliana, Miles, Reid, Emry, and Lila; her brothers and sisters: David Dice, Kathy (Steve) Zeboor, John (Linda) Dice and Amy (Jim) Bursma; her mother-in-law Edna Smith her in-laws: Pam (John) Wilson, Sandy (Wayne) Breuker, Faith (George) Powell and Todd (Zelpha) Smith as well as by her many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Westview Christian Reformed Church (2929 Leonard St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504).

Friends and family are invited to visit with the family at church prior to the service starting at 10:00 AM.

Memorial contributions to Faith Hospice (8214 Pfeiffer Farms Drive, SW, Byron Center, MI 49315) or the Alzheimer's Association – Greater Michigan Chapter, West Michigan Office (4081 Cascade Rd SE Suite 400, Grand Rapids, MI 49546) are appreciated.

To sign Deb's guestbook or share a memory, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com.