JoAnne Smith

JoAnne Smith, 75, of Speedway, Indiana, died at University Hospital after a third short, yet brave battle with cancer on Monday, April 1. She was born in Indianapolis in 1949 to Charles and Loretta Smith (who proceeded her in death), and is survived by her loving husband Phill Bence Smith of 53 years, son Joe (Angie) Smith, daughter Gina (Scott) Wyland, brothers Charles (Jenny) Smith and Jim (Jane) Smith, grandchildren Mackenzie (Colton) Dosch, Kyle, Karly, and Jackson Smith, Megan and Stephanie Wyland, and great-grandchildren Brooklynn, Malacai, Jayden, Silas, and Kaiden. She is also survived by a host of loving nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

After graduating from Washington High School in 1967, JoAnne and Phill were married on August 29, 1970. She worked for Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield before staying home to raise her two children. Later, she served hundreds of students in the Speedway Schools cafeterias for many years before her first battle with cancer in 2013. JoAnne loved to attend games coached and played by her children and grandchildren, enjoyed her card club friends and neighbors, and faithfully cheered on the Chicago Cubs. Her gentle spirit, loving-kindness, funny isms, inner strength, and radiant positivity will be how her family remembers her best. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Speedway High School Athletics or Greensburg High School Athletics in honor of JoAnne Smith. Her family offers a special thank you to the loving staff on the 6th floor of University Hospital for the excellent care and compassion shown to the entire Smith family in the final weeks of JoAnne’s life. 

Visitation and services will be held at Flanner Buchanan - Speedway at 2950 N. High School Road, on Thursday, April 4 from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Friday, April 5 from 11 am - noon with services beginning at noon. Interment will follow at Lincoln Memory Gardens Cemetery.