Lorraine M. Smith, 88, a longtime resident of LaGrange, passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on July 13. Lorraine was the fourth of five children born to Gertrude and Leo Wiley of Forest Park. She suffered from polio as a child, but recovered fully and grew up to be a great beauty. She met the love of her life V. Richard Smith at a Proviso East dance; Dick was smitten and Lorraine soon was, too. They married in 1950 and started a family shortly thereafter, moving first to Wheaton, then to Glen Ellyn, and eventually to LaGrange in 1967, where they raised their six daughters and remained for the rest of their lives. Lorraine and Dick’s marriage was a great love match; they were true partners and intellectual equals, as well as best friends.

Lorraine was born to be a mother. Following the birth of their daughter Stacey with special needs, she was a fierce and tireless advocate for her daughter. She and Dick were in the vanguard of parents pushing to assimilate children with special needs into the schools and the community, and they did so successfully. Lorraine was fearless and had moxie; she was a realist as well as an indefatigable optimist. One of Lorraine’s greatest gifts to her daughters was that she loved each of them as individuals and encouraged them to find their own paths to happiness. She applauded grandchildren and happy marriages, as well as successful careers, well-behaved (and ill-behaved) canines, high bowling scores, and kindness. Lorraine and Dick loved travel and she often recounted their adventures in Europe, the Caribbean, and Hawaii; they also spent many contented winter months in Palm Desert, California. But she and Dick were never happier than when surrounded by their family, and their home was the gathering place for hundreds of get-togethers with family and friends over the years. It’s a testament to Lorraine and Dick’s love that their grandchildren, especially granddaughter Elizabeth and grandson Ben, took on a major role in caregiving for them in their later years. The family sends its deep gratitude to Ben and especially Elizabeth, as well as caregivers Jabu, Dee, Barb, and Lisa and nurse-practitioner Patti Austermuehle.

Lorraine was predeceased by her beloved husband Dick, brothers Tom and Bob Wiley, sister Rosemary Neitzke, and niece Patricia Citrano. She is survived by daughters Susan, Stacey, Nancy Hanley, Laury (Dennis) Clark, Melissa (Daniel) Marguerite, and Christine (Gregory) Benz. She is also survived by grandchildren Kevin (Megan), Timothy, and Nichole Hanley; Elizabeth, Benjamin, and Ellen Tooley; and Madeline and Emily Marguerite; as well as great-grandchildren Arianna, Isabelle, and Ethan Hanley. She is also survived by her sister Lauretta (Charles) Citrano, sisters-in-law Norma Wiley and Jacquelyn Petitt, and many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center (www.hhcenter.org) or Seaspar (seaspar.org). Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, July 18, at Hallowell and James Funeral Home, 1025 W. 55^th Street, Countryside. A mass in celebration of Lorraine’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 19, at St. Cletus Catholic Church, 600 W. 55^th Street, LaGrange. Funeral info: 708-352-6500.