Warren D. Smith, 84, passed away Wednesday, December 20, 2023 at Jennings Terrace in Aurora, Illinois. He was born January 25, 1939 in Aurora, Illinois.
Warren married the love of his life, Joyce Wilkening, on August 8, 1959 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church. He was a lifelong resident of Aurora. He was a devoted member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church. He was the past president of the Aurora Serra Club, a member of the Our Lady of Good Counsel Finance Council, and the Diocesan Finance Council. After receiving his Bachelors Degree from Aurora College, Warren earned his Masters Degree at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.
An educator all his adult life, Warren retired in June of 2002 after forty years of service in the Rockford Diocese. He was a teacher and principal at Our Lady of Good Counsel School from 1963 - 1995; served as the Aurora Area Superintendent of Catholic Schools from 1985 - 1997; he was also the Director of Administration Services at Aurora Central Catholic High School from 1995 – 1997; served as the Canonical Administrator at Archbishop Romero School from 1990-1997; and finally served as the principal at St. Thomas the Apostle School from 1997 until his retirement in 2002.
Of all the titles Warren held, the ones that he relished most were Husband, Father, and Grandfather.
Warren is survived by his ten children, Kathleen (Carl) Prosch-Jensen, Marjorie (Frank Tirado) Smith, Virginia (Phil) Rice, Daniel (Kerry) Smith, Christine Smith, Jennifer (George) Bognar, Andrew Smith, Elizabeth (William) Cappello, Matthew (Julie) Smith, and Carol (Joe Varney) Smith; and his fifteen grandchildren, Gina (James Gillcrist) Zanolli; Kevin, Kelly, Lindsey, and Erin Fisher; Kelsey, Liam, and Thomas Smith; Madelyn and Gabriel Bognar; Rachel Smith; Emily Smith; and Samuel, Grace, and Caleb Smith; his sister Donna Kolle; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce M. (Wilkening) Smith; his parents, Daniel F. and Hazel V. (Bergman) Smith; and a sister at birth.
Warren's family would like to thank the good people at Jennings Terrace who cared for Warren in his final weeks.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 11:30 AM from THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY to Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church for mass at 12:00 PM, Fr. Timothy Mulcahey will officiate with interment to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday, December 22, 2023 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at THE DALEIDEN MORTUARY, 220 North Lake Street, Aurora, Illinois 60506. (630) 631-5500.
In lieu of flowers, please donate in Warren's name to Our Lady of Good Counsel.
Please visit our interactive website at www.daleidenmortuary.com where you may sign the guest book or leave condolences for Warren's family.