Helen Marie Felbinger Smith, longtime wife, mother and homemaker, died Monday, February 17, at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Illinois, at the age of 97.  Her husband, Virgil E. Smith, preceded her in death in 2010. She is survived by her two children, Elizabeth Anne Smith Brown (married to GeneThiele), and Stephen Robert Smith (married to Linda); and her four grandchildren, Samuel Edward Brown, Kristen Ruth Smith, Kathryn Elisabeth Smith Ajuria (married to Michael) and Stephen Charles Smith.

Helen Smith was born in 1916 in Chicago, and attended Schneider Elementary School and Lake View High School, graduating as Valedictorian of her class at Lake View.  She was a long time member of Galilee Baptist Church in Chicago, and there she met Virgil when, as a Moody Bible Institute student, he directed the choir at Galilee.  They married in 1943, and following brief stints on the faculties at Chicago Evangelistic Institute in Chicago and Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Virgil was invited to join the faculty at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught for 32 years. Mrs. Smith at times played the piano for and sang in choirs her husband conducted. The Smiths and their children attended Galilee for many years, and in later years, worshipped at The Moody Church, until moving to Windsor Park Manor in Carol Stream in 2001.

While her children were in school, Mrs. Smith was an active participant in their education, including frequent service on the PTA. As her children got older, she went back to work, doing office work for various employers, including Moody Bible Institute, Commerce Clearing House, and Educational Testing Service. She also was a very active grandmother, particularly to Elizabeth's son, Samuel, for whom she provided regular care while his mother was employed full time.

In later years, Mrs. Smith studied German in order to better connect with her heritage, having been born to first and second generation immigrants. The Smiths enjoyed traveling with Mrs. Smith's brother, Karl Felbinger, and his wife, Marcella, and also enjoyed annual trips to Eagle River, Wisconsin with children and grandchildren.

Helen Smith loved her family above all, and in a very real sense, dedicated her life to caring for the needs of her family. Her greatest joy was in maintaining a home environment where her husband and children could succeed, supporting them in their endeavors, and spending time with them.

A memorial service will be held at Windsor Park Manor, 124 Windsor Park Drive, Carol Stream, Illinois, 60188, on Saturday, March 1, at 1:30 p.m. Interment is private at Eden Memorial Park in Schiller Park, IL.

In lieu of flowers, direct memorials to Moody Bible Institute, 820 N. LaSalle Drive, Chicago, Illinois, 60610, or the Windsor Park Benevolent Fund at the address above.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.