The Life of Jeanne Lennon Smith
Jeanne Elizabeth Presber Lennon Smith was born in Camden, NJ, and raised in Philadelphia, the daughter of the late Eleanor (Hall) and Frank Presber. She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Virginia Bryant and Evelyn Smith. She was a Children’s Librarian for the Free Library of Philadelphia at the West Philadelphia Branch for 7 years, and the Main Library in Philadelphia for one year, before moving to Drexel Hill.
She is survived by her second husband, Bill (Story) Smith, daughters Barbara J. Kaehne and her husband, Richard of Havertown, PA and Janet E. Marcellus of Drexel Hill, PA, two sons, Thomas M. Lennon of Philadelphia and his wife, Maureen Wellner and Garry D. Lennon and his husband, Mark Valdez of Los Angeles, CA. Also surviving are her four grandchildren, Linda Kaehne, Trish Kaehne, Claire Lennon, Harry Wellner, many nieces and nephews and her former husband, Francis Lennon.
Jeanne was co-founder of the community theatre group; St. Andrew’s Parish Players in Drexel Hill, PA in 1972 and continued as its Producer until 1978.
Jeanne was an active volunteer with Girl Scouts of Delaware County for 20 years serving in every volunteer position, including Council President, earning several Awards. She was hired as a Field Director in 1977 and then as Program Director in 1980 for the Delaware County Council, a position she retired from in 1990.
After her retirement, she lived in Burlington, VT, and then moved to Irving and Dallas, TX, Long Beach and Studio City, CA to live with her son, Garry. Each place where she lived, she was employed in a Managerial position: in Burlington VT – Shift Manager at “Tis the Season” gift shop; in Irving TX – customer service at Gemmy Industries where she was the ‘expert’ on their life-sized talking Santa Claus; in Dallas TX and Studio City, CA – night manager at Blockbuster Video stores; and Studio City – night manager at an upscale linen goods store. One of the best parts of all those jobs was her ability to ‘make new friends and keep the old’ – truly silver and gold.
In late 2001, while living in California, she re-connected with her high school sweetheart, Bill (Story) Smith who was living in VA. In 2002, she moved to his home in Hampton, where they were married. They loved to travel and took many cruises to the various places in the Caribbean, Alaska and the Mediterranean.
Jeanne had been an active member of the Hampton Mayor’s Committee for People with Disability from 2002 till 2017 and had served as their Secretary and Newsletter Editor. She also volunteered with VersAbility in Hampton VA.
The family would like to thank the staff at Sunrise of Granite Run and Main Line Health Hospice for their care and support.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in her memory to Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Attn: Director of Development Operations, Girl Scouts of Southeastern Pennsylvania, 330 Manor Road, Miquon, PA 19444.
VISITATION - 10:00AM-11:00AM, TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018 -Toppitzer Funeral Home
MEMORIAL SERVICE -11:00AM, TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 2018
AT: TOPPITZER FUNERAL HOME AT ARLINGTON-2900 STATE RD, DREXEL HILL,PA