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tree
planted in memory of Cheryl S. Smiley
Obituary for Cheryl S. Smiley
Cheryl Siuda Smiley, 70, of Oviedo, Florida, passed away on the evening of September 11, 2021. Her husband of almost 50 years by her side.
Cheryl was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 5, 1950, to the late Michael and Mary Jane Siuda. Cheryl spent the majority of her life in Central Florida, graduating from Bishop Moore High School in 1968. As an undergrad, Cheryl attended Orlando Junior College and the University of Central Florida, where as a Kappa Sigma Starduster, she would eventually meet her husband, John “Rick” Smiley.
Rick and Cheryl were married on April 28, 1972 at St. James Catholic Cathedral in Orlando. It was around this time that Cheryl would be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an unpredictable disease that she would courageously battle for the next 50 years.
Cheryl was a long time member of the St. Stephens Catholic Community, and a lover of all things antique and unique. You could often find her in a local antique shop, buying or selling formerly loved items that others may have considered meaningless, but to which she found great beauty and joy.
Cheryl had a gentle and kind spirit and will long be remembered for her love of the beach, nature and animals. She filled her home with many furry pets, including numerous cats, dogs, and hamsters, and could be found feeding the visiting birds around her home as often as possible. Although it can be said that the birdfeed-stealing squirrels were no match for the power of her mighty Super Soaker gun!
Earlier in life, Cheryl worked at the Court of Flags Hotel as personnel manager, Chase Bank as a teller trainer, and the Pinellas County Teachers Association as an administrative assistant. However, out of all her jobs, titles and duties, Cheryl will be most revered for her role as a loving and courageous mother.
Like many couples, during the first years of marriage, Rick and Cheryl tried unsuccessfully to have children. In the early 80’s, they adopted their first child through the Catholic Diocese, Lynette. They found that Lynette was an unimaginable joy, and adopted another child 2 years later, a son Matthew. As fate would have it, Cheryl also became pregnant with her only biological son, Michael at the same time, making the two youngest children less than a year apart. With three under 3 in the 80’s, three unruly teenagers in the 90’s and a degenerative neurological disease, Cheryl was no less than a superhero.
Cheryl is survived by her husband, John “Rick” Smiley and brother, Michael Siuda Jr. She is also survived by her three children and their respective spouses; her daughter, Lynette Smiley Belle and husband, Dwayne Belle, her son, Matthew Richard Smiley, her son Michael Patrick Smiley and wife, Jennifer Smiley. Although these kids gave her “all the gray hairs on her head,” they somehow managed to produce six of the most beautiful and brilliant grandchildren; Kellie Smiley, Lukas and Justin Smiley, Jaden Belle, and Chloe and Olivia Belle.
The family will receive friends for the funeral mass on Friday, October 1st at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Catholic Community, 575 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs, Florida 32708, followed by a reception at Tuscawilla Country Club. Cheryl’s cremains will be laid to rest by her immediate family following the funeral mass at the Queen of Angels cemetery in Winter Park, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cheryl Smiley Memorial Fund thru National Multiple Sclerosis Society https://mssociety.donordrive.com/campaign/Cheryl-Smiley-Memorial-Fund
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Cheryl was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 5, 1950, to the late Michael and Mary Jane Siuda. Cheryl spent the majority of her life in Central Florida, graduating from Bishop Moore High School in 1968. As an undergrad, Cheryl attended Orlando Junior College and the University of Central Florida, where as a Kappa Sigma Starduster, she would eventually meet her husband, John “Rick” Smiley.
Rick and Cheryl were married on April 28, 1972 at St. James Catholic Cathedral in Orlando. It was around this time that Cheryl would be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, an unpredictable disease that she would courageously battle for the next 50 years.
Cheryl was a long time member of the St. Stephens Catholic Community, and a lover of all things antique and unique. You could often find her in a local antique shop, buying or selling formerly loved items that others may have considered meaningless, but to which she found great beauty and joy.
Cheryl had a gentle and kind spirit and will long be remembered for her love of the beach, nature and animals. She filled her home with many furry pets, including numerous cats, dogs, and hamsters, and could be found feeding the visiting birds around her home as often as possible. Although it can be said that the birdfeed-stealing squirrels were no match for the power of her mighty Super Soaker gun!
Earlier in life, Cheryl worked at the Court of Flags Hotel as personnel manager, Chase Bank as a teller trainer, and the Pinellas County Teachers Association as an administrative assistant. However, out of all her jobs, titles and duties, Cheryl will be most revered for her role as a loving and courageous mother.
Like many couples, during the first years of marriage, Rick and Cheryl tried unsuccessfully to have children. In the early 80’s, they adopted their first child through the Catholic Diocese, Lynette. They found that Lynette was an unimaginable joy, and adopted another child 2 years later, a son Matthew. As fate would have it, Cheryl also became pregnant with her only biological son, Michael at the same time, making the two youngest children less than a year apart. With three under 3 in the 80’s, three unruly teenagers in the 90’s and a degenerative neurological disease, Cheryl was no less than a superhero.
Cheryl is survived by her husband, John “Rick” Smiley and brother, Michael Siuda Jr. She is also survived by her three children and their respective spouses; her daughter, Lynette Smiley Belle and husband, Dwayne Belle, her son, Matthew Richard Smiley, her son Michael Patrick Smiley and wife, Jennifer Smiley. Although these kids gave her “all the gray hairs on her head,” they somehow managed to produce six of the most beautiful and brilliant grandchildren; Kellie Smiley, Lukas and Justin Smiley, Jaden Belle, and Chloe and Olivia Belle.
The family will receive friends for the funeral mass on Friday, October 1st at 10:00 a.m. at St. Stephen’s Catholic Community, 575 Tuskawilla Road, Winter Springs, Florida 32708, followed by a reception at Tuscawilla Country Club. Cheryl’s cremains will be laid to rest by her immediate family following the funeral mass at the Queen of Angels cemetery in Winter Park, Florida.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Cheryl Smiley Memorial Fund thru National Multiple Sclerosis Society https://mssociety.donordrive.com/campaign/Cheryl-Smiley-Memorial-Fund
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