Jennie JoAn Smith

Jennie JoAn Smith (Bell) age 90, passed away suddenly on January 26, 2023. Born January 1, 1933 to the late Glenn and Viola Bennett she was a lifelong resident of Canton and the oldest of six children. She is preceded in death by her husband Robert Z. Smith, her siblings Barbara Selig, Marjorie Burns, Vera Bowers, Glenn Bennett, step daughter Dorothy Bell, and granddaughter Jennifer Mayle. She is survived by her daughter Frances (Jack) Sterling;  husband Herb Bell; grandchildren Evett Pugh, Shauna (Tom) Kennedy, Nicole (Nick) Ward, and Storm (Grace) Bell; step children Keith (Lorraine) Bell and Faith Bell; great grandchildren Adrian, Carter, Rosalynn, Zann, Alex, Andrea, Nathaniel, Alison, Ian and McKenna; sister Martha (Bill) Fogle, and many more family and friends.

Jennie was very active and enjoyed her careers with Fishers Foods, where she worked for many decades as head cashier and Bells Concessions where she traveled the state teaching her family the importance of hard work on the carnival circuit. Her greatest joys in life were her grandchildren. Every summer she would make the simplest pleasures, like gardening, day trips, and running in the yard with sprinklers feel like magical adventures. She took great pride in all of her grandchildren and loved attending their graduations, sporting events, concerts, and recitals. She gave long, strong hugs and always reminded her family that wherever we go we should go with God.  She could be trusted to share exactly what was on her mind in any situation, but her door and kitchen were always open to family and friends and her amazing baked goods, made with love, will be sorely missed.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 3rd from 5-7pm at Kreighbaum-Sanders Funeral Home.   A funeral service will be held Saturday, February 4th at 11am at the funeral home with visitation one hour prior to the service. Jennie will be laid to rest at Union Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Kreighbaum-Sanders Funeral Home, 4041 Cleveland Ave S, Canton, OH 44707.

Friends and family may share condolences and memories online at www.sandersfuneralhomes.com.