Mary Bernardine Smith, 84, of Mendota died Dec. 4, 2010, in Illinois Valley Community Hospital, Peru, with her daughters at her side. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday in Boyd's Grove United Methodist Church, Bradford, with the Rev. Amy Holman officiating. Internment will be at Henry Cemetery. Visitation is 5-7 p.m. Wednesday in Merritt Funeral Home, Mendota. "Bernie" was born Aug. 3, 1926, to Everett and Grace Wright. She was the eldest daughter of 11 and grew up on a farm outside of Milo. She enjoyed school and was hired upon graduating high school to teach elementary school. She taught for eight years and during summers, she took college courses, many of which involved traveling. She earned enough credits to be a college sophomore. Her love of learning and the memories of those adventures remained throughout her life. She married Francis Leroy Smith on Oct. 5, 1952, in the family home and worked side-by-side with him as they farmed. She and Francis had five children. When the children were older, she returned to teaching part-time for several years before becoming a food service director in nursing homes for 24 years. In between caring for her family and her work, she took classes in nutrition to further her learning. She loved the nursing home residents, as she loved children. Bernie is survived by two sons, Doug (Barb) Smith and Jeff (Holly) Smith; three daughters, Sharon Smith, Debbie (Dennis) Bieser andDenise Smith; nine grandchildren, Blake, Ellie, Audra, Neal, Patrick, Heather, Nicholas, Peter and Dustin; five brothers and one sister. She was preceded in death by her husband, Francis, two brothers and two sisters. Memorials may be directed to Boyd's Grove United Methodist Church.