Cornelia K. Smith

Memorial services for Cornelia Kuchenbacker “Cooky” Smith, 95, of Willoughby, will be at 1 PM on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the First Presbyterian Church of Willoughby, 4785 Shankland Road, Willoughby. The Rev. S. Shane Nanney will officiate at the service.

Members and friends of Willoughby Chapter 202 Order of the Eastern Star will also conduct services at that time.

Mrs. Smith passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018.

Born January 21, 1922 in Cleveland, she has lived in Willoughby for the past 65 years. Formerly of Euclid. In 1946, she married her high school sweetheart, James Campbell Smith.

Mrs. Smith was a graduate and valedictorian of the Euclid Shore High School, class of 1939 and The Cardinal Key Honor Society at Kent State University, where she graduated with the class of 1943, and earned her Bachelor of Science in Foods and Nutrition.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Willoughby, Order of the Eastern Star Willoughby Chapter 202, where she served as Worthy Matron in 1978 and as a Deputy Grand Matron in 1981. She also served six years on The Ohio Eastern Star Home Board of Trustees.

Mrs. Smith was an active member of The Ladies Oriental Shrine, Kheedawee Court, Alpha Phi International Fraternity, The Alpha Phi Cleveland Alumni Association and Cleveland Panhellenic Board. She was a member of The Green Thumb Garden Club and the Cleveland Garden Center; an officer on the Junior Board of Euclid General Hospital where she was a 25-year volunteer.

She was also a 40-year volunteer at Lake West Hospital in Willoughby. She enjoyed golf, bridge, gardening, traveling extensively and entertaining friends and relatives.

Mrs. Smith was employed for five years as a food supervisor at the former Hotel Statler in Cleveland, Boston, New York, Chicago and St. Louis, and then as a cafeteria manager with the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School System for 20 years.

Survivors are her daughters, Janice (Creighton Murch) Smith of Kirtland and Laurel Smith of Gates Mills; J. Paris Caldwell, Lily-Ange (Emmanuel Massart) Smith Caldwell, Maximilian (Jacqueline) Smith Caldwell, Hale Campbell Smith Murch, James Creighton Smith Murch and John Baker Smith Murch; great grandson, Maximilian Michael Caldwell and sister, Belva K. Moran. She also leaves numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James Campbell Smith on February 2, 2008. Her parents, Albert E. and Josephine Cornelia (Vanderwerf) Kuchenbacker are also deceased.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to The Ohio Eastern Star Home, 1451 Gambier Road, Mount Vernon, OH 43050; or The First Presbyterian Church of Willoughby or The Lake Health Foundation, 36000 Euclid Avenue, Willoughby, OH 44094.