Joel R. “Smittie” Smith, 54, of Lorain, passed away Monday, August 27, 2012, at his home, after a battle with cancer, for many years. He was born July 29, 1958 in Lorain and had been a lifelong Lorain area resident.
Joel attended Nativity Catholic School and served Mass at the church. He graduated from Admiral King High School in Lorain in 1976, where he served as president of student council. He played rugby and softball in leagues in the area.
Since 1998, Joel owned and operated Rosewood Banquet Facilities in Lorain. He also managed the family owned Smitties Distributing in Lorain for 36 years and owned Midtown Athletic Club in Lorain. He was a member of Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Lorain. Joel was a very social person and belonged to many social clubs in Lorain. He had a great sense of humor and was a very giving man who helped many people. Over the years, he sponsored many local sports teams. Joel was known to end a conversation by saying, “God Bless You.”
He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Neal; children, Jamie (Jmenray) Mireles of Pinellas Park, Florida, Jacqueline Smith, Jennifer Smith, Jessica Smith and Jenna “Little Smittie” Smith, all of Lorain; stepson, Brandon Neal of Lorain; grandchildren, Justin “Meatball” Smith, Jerry Hahn, Jr and Desiree Sommerville; mother, Dorothy Smith-Costello (nee Balzer) of Lorain; sister, Constance Smith of Lorain; and brothers, Jonathan (Rose) Smith of Amherst and Jeffrey (Pam) Smith of Lorain; stepbrother, Gregory (Tracy) Costello of Perrysburg; and stepsisters, Joan Ross of Avon Lake and Allison Von Weber of Sullivan. He was preceded in death by his father, James R. Smith; stepfather, Peter A. Costello; brother, James R. Smith; maternal grandparents, Jack & Genevieve Balzer; and paternal grandparents, Theodore & Stella Smith.
The family will receive friends Monday, September 3, 2012, 2 to 8 P.M., at Rosewood Party Center, 4493 Oberlin Ave, Lorain. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 9 A.M., at Rosewood Party Center, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial, 10 A.M., at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 1454 Lexington Ave, Lorain. The Reverend Daniel O. Divis, Pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Lorain, will be the Celebrant. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.
Arrangements are under the direction of Gluvna-Shimo-Hromada Funeral Chapel, 3224 Broadway Ave, Lorain.
Online condolences can be made at www.gluvna.net.
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