August 14, 1929-October 18, 2026

On a beautiful fall morning, Jenny Smith left earth and arrived at her final destination, after 97 years of calling it home.

Jenny “Jan” Barbara Hallett was born in Upper Brighton, New Brunswick, the fifth of  seven children. Growing up on the family farm, she spent many happy hours riding her bike, skating on the frozen pond, and enjoying sleigh rides. Church and community were central to family life. As she grew older, community dances became another pleasure, usually in the company of her brother George.

She was close to all of her siblings and would return to New Brunswick often, all  throughout her life. She kept up on the activities of her nieces and nephews with interest and affection, always emphasizing how important they all were to her.

When Mom was sixteen her little cousin Nina, who had come to live with the family  following her own mother’s death, was struck by a horse and died from her injuries. This devastating loss came just six months after the sudden death of Mom’s beloved  grandmother. She later described that period as a ‘fog’ and she struggled to regain her bearings. Nina held a place in her heart for the rest of her life.

Upon graduating from high school, Mom attended teachers’ college where she  successfully obtained her diploma. Her curiosity and sense of adventure soon led her in another direction. In 1953, she enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force, serving as a radar technician. She was immensely proud of her service and of the Canadian Armed Forces throughout her life.

With a longing to see the West, she made her way to Calgary, where she completed a short secretarial program. Then opportunity knocked again, taking her to Aklavik, Northwest Territories, to teach Inuit children. She loved teaching. When that temporary assignment ended, she returned to Calgary.

While sharing a home with three roommates in Calgary, Mom met our father, Ron, one  New Year’s Eve. A full-time teaching position subsequently took her north again, this time to Hay River, Northwest Territories and their courtship continued across the miles. They became  engaged early in 1959 and returned to New Brunswick to marry that July.

Theirs was a lifelong love affair.

In 1968, they settled in Gibbons, Alberta where they built a small trailer court and made a home  with their three children, soon to become four. They would spend most of their married life there.

Gibbons proved an idyllic place to raise their family, and they formed many lasting  friendships. For the next twenty years, Mom served as an unpaid chauffeur driving all four of us to sports, dance, piano and whatever else caught our interest. You name  it—she went!

Mom adored her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She shared a very special bond with her oldest granddaughter, Layna. For more than two years Layna faithfully visited Grandma playing cards, arranging fancy tea parties and doing all she could to brighten her days. Those visits meant so much as Mom’s world grew smaller with the gradual loss of her hearing, mobility and, finally, her vision went.

Her Christian faith sustained her, and she longed to meet her Savior, and be reunited with our father and all the many friends and relatives who had gone before her.

She was a wonderful mother, and we will miss her dearly.

Left to mourn her passing are her four children, Rhonda (Murray) Mulligan, Tanya (Darren) Larocque, Chris (Corinne) Smith, and Kendall (Crystal Smith); twelve grandchildren, Layna (Jeff) Haley, Brock (Virginia) Mulligan, Bryce (Maron) Mulligan Lauren (Greg) Deane, Justin (Margaret) Larocque, Jordan Larocque, Dylan Larcoque, Tyson Larocque, Nicholas (Jessica) Elliott, Jonathan (Andrea) Elliott, Connor Smith, and Kenna Smith; twelve great grandchildren Austin Mulligan, Alexa Haley, Nixon Haley, Anna Mulligan, Theodore Mulligan, Ellis Deane, Eric Deane, Adrien Larocque, Claire Larcoque, Jameson Elliott, Logan Elliott, and Emmett Elliott. She is also lovingly remembered by her sister-in-law, Joan Hallett of New Brunswick; her aunt-in-law, Jean Paradis (Leon) of Bashaw; along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Jan was predeceased by her beloved husband, Ron Smith; her parents, Ken and Reta Hallett; parents-in-law, Val and Ineas Smith; her brothers, Hazen, Blaire (Helen), George (Betty), Mac (Juanita), and Gordon Hallett; her sister-in-law, Verna Hallett; and her sister, Regina (Murray) Thomas; her brothers-in-law, Harold (Lillian Screen), Robert (Connie) Screen; Robert’s second wife Ann; and Jim.

Funeral Services
Friday, October 30, 2026
at 1:00 PM
Spruce View Manor
4539 49 Street
Gibbons, Alberta