1939
Ilse
2018
Ilse Doris Jelitto Smyly
July 16, 1939 — September 21, 2018
Our most beloved and cherished wife and mother, Ilse Doris Jelitto Smyly passed away at the age of 79 on September 21, 2018, after a valiant 8 year battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Ilse was born on July 16, 1939 in Hindenburg, Schlesien Germany to Maximilian Josef Jelitto and Herta Johanna Neumann.
After enduring many hardships from World War II, including losing their father, the family immigrated to the United States. Herta brought four of her five children with her, leaving one son behind in Germany. Ilse met James Marvin Smyly at an LDS singles dance in Salt Lake City. She spoke little English, and he was from Alabama, speaking no German. He was instantly taken with this beautiful and shy girl from Germany, and somehow, they made it work, language barrier and all. They were married on September 29, 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on November 6, 1967. They were married for over 57 years. Together they had six children, one daughter and 5 sons: Marina(55), Rodney(53), Dietmar(52), Torsten(49), Ruben(47) and Christopher(42).
Ilse never lost her love for her native country of Germany. Always proudly displaying her German treasures in her home. Her son Torsten gave them the gift of a trip to Germany for Christmas one year and she and James were finally able to go back and visit her homeland in 1998, relishing in all of the German memories she loved. She had many German friends throughout the years and she loved them all. Spending time in the German speaking Ward and attending many German functions.
She was an excellent cook, with her sons still raving about all of the delicious meals that she would make for them. She was also a very stylish and classy lady. She was well known for her excellent clothing choices and was quite taken with trips to TJ Maxx and Ross, searching out the nicest things for the best bargains.
Ilse loved her children fiercely and was their greatest advocate. Her five boys all cherished their mother. Her greatest joy was raising her children and watching them grow and cheering on their accomplishments. She loved little children and was a fun-loving Oma to her 7 grandchildren. Always making sure that she had fun things for them to do and play while they were at Oma and Opa’s house.
Ilse was a caregiver to her mother Herta in the last years of her life. She loved her mother very much and served her with great dignity. Even in the final stage of her Alzheimer’s, she would remember her mother with great fondness, always saying “I love my Mom”. She took excellent care of her mother during her final days and we are sure that Herta was there waiting to greet her daughter with open and loving arms as she left this earthly life.
She always had a great love of music and made her children take piano lessons. Her son Rodney became quite a talented and accomplished musician/composer, playing not by sheet music but by ear. Throughout her fight with Alzheimer’s, music brought her the greatest joy. Rodney would come play just for her. She would sing along and dance to the music that he picked out especially for her. “Rosamunde” being her most favorite of all. These memories will be cherished by all who witnessed this.
We would like to extend an extra special thank you to James’ niece Ruth and her husband Will Abbott who are angels here on earth, taking time out to visit regularly with James and Ilse providing them comfort and companionship. We are so grateful to the both of you.
Ilse leaves behind her husband James, daughter Marina (Gary), son Rodney, son Dietmar (Diane), son Torsten, son Ruben, son Christopher and her 7 grandchildren, Zachary, Zandon, Savannah, Mykayla, Nicholas, Christopher and London. She was preceded in death by her mother Herta, father Maximilian, brother Joachim, brother, Erhart, nephew Folker, nephew Dirk, and niece Sabrina.
Graveside Services were held Friday, September 28, 2018. On-line condolences may be shared at www.memorialutah.comService Information
Viewing at
Graveside Service
September 28, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, UT
After enduring many hardships from World War II, including losing their father, the family immigrated to the United States. Herta brought four of her five children with her, leaving one son behind in Germany. Ilse met James Marvin Smyly at an LDS singles dance in Salt Lake City. She spoke little English, and he was from Alabama, speaking no German. He was instantly taken with this beautiful and shy girl from Germany, and somehow, they made it work, language barrier and all. They were married on September 29, 1961 in Salt Lake City, Utah. They were later sealed in the Salt Lake Temple on November 6, 1967. They were married for over 57 years. Together they had six children, one daughter and 5 sons: Marina(55), Rodney(53), Dietmar(52), Torsten(49), Ruben(47) and Christopher(42).
Ilse never lost her love for her native country of Germany. Always proudly displaying her German treasures in her home. Her son Torsten gave them the gift of a trip to Germany for Christmas one year and she and James were finally able to go back and visit her homeland in 1998, relishing in all of the German memories she loved. She had many German friends throughout the years and she loved them all. Spending time in the German speaking Ward and attending many German functions.
She was an excellent cook, with her sons still raving about all of the delicious meals that she would make for them. She was also a very stylish and classy lady. She was well known for her excellent clothing choices and was quite taken with trips to TJ Maxx and Ross, searching out the nicest things for the best bargains.
Ilse loved her children fiercely and was their greatest advocate. Her five boys all cherished their mother. Her greatest joy was raising her children and watching them grow and cheering on their accomplishments. She loved little children and was a fun-loving Oma to her 7 grandchildren. Always making sure that she had fun things for them to do and play while they were at Oma and Opa’s house.
Ilse was a caregiver to her mother Herta in the last years of her life. She loved her mother very much and served her with great dignity. Even in the final stage of her Alzheimer’s, she would remember her mother with great fondness, always saying “I love my Mom”. She took excellent care of her mother during her final days and we are sure that Herta was there waiting to greet her daughter with open and loving arms as she left this earthly life.
She always had a great love of music and made her children take piano lessons. Her son Rodney became quite a talented and accomplished musician/composer, playing not by sheet music but by ear. Throughout her fight with Alzheimer’s, music brought her the greatest joy. Rodney would come play just for her. She would sing along and dance to the music that he picked out especially for her. “Rosamunde” being her most favorite of all. These memories will be cherished by all who witnessed this.
We would like to extend an extra special thank you to James’ niece Ruth and her husband Will Abbott who are angels here on earth, taking time out to visit regularly with James and Ilse providing them comfort and companionship. We are so grateful to the both of you.
Ilse leaves behind her husband James, daughter Marina (Gary), son Rodney, son Dietmar (Diane), son Torsten, son Ruben, son Christopher and her 7 grandchildren, Zachary, Zandon, Savannah, Mykayla, Nicholas, Christopher and London. She was preceded in death by her mother Herta, father Maximilian, brother Joachim, brother, Erhart, nephew Folker, nephew Dirk, and niece Sabrina.
Graveside Services were held Friday, September 28, 2018. On-line condolences may be shared at www.memorialutah.comService Information
Viewing at
Graveside Service
September 28, 2018 at 11:00 AM
Memorial Holladay Cemetery, 4900 South Memory Lane, Holladay, UT
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ilse Doris Jelitto Smyly, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 11
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors