Obituary of Janet M. Smith

November 5, 1944 - June 10, 2026

Janet M. Smith age 81 of Riverview. 

Beloved wife  of the late Thomas Smith Sr. Loving mother of Annette (G) Smith, Patricia (Tony) Saavedra, Thomas (Michelle) Smith Jr., and Mary Alice (Bob) Smith. Dearest grandmother of Lauren (Levi) Zimmerman, Emily Grinstern, Austin Saavedra, Echo Grinstern, and Noah Saavedra.
Dear great grandmother of Baby Zimmerman. She is also survived by her dog, Sprocket. She was preceded in death by her parents, and siblings.

Family Tribute

Janet M. Smith was known by many names: wife, Mom, mother-in-law, Grandma, and Great Grandma (Mimi). No matter what name you called her, you knew the same thing about her: she loved her family deeply. She showed that love by being there, worrying about everyone else before herself, and making sure the people she loved always felt supported. As Mom, she was strong, independent, and often just stubborn enough to make us shake our heads. During her cancer battle, she rarely complained, even when we knew she had every reason to. She never wanted to be a burden and often hid her pain far too well. That was Mom. She carried more than she should have, worried more about us than herself, and still somehow kept going with courage and grace.

As Grandma, she was proud, protective, and all in. Her face lit up whenever she talked about her grandchildren. She loved going to their games, and if the refs needed a little “guidance,” Grandma was ready. She defended her grandkids, sometimes even from their own parents, and she never missed a chance to show up for them. She also had her own way of doing things: watching the Tigers, visiting Greenfield Village and Mackinac Island, keeping her gas tank above half, paying her own way, and enjoying her real-life crime dramas. She was so excited for her newest title, Great Grandma, and we will make sure Baby Z knows all about her Mimi. We are grateful for the time we had with her, even through the hard days, because that time gave us conversations, memories, and closeness we will always carry. We are heartbroken, but also grateful for her love, her strength, her humor, her stubborn independence, and the legacy she leaves in each of us. We love you, Mom. We love you, Grandma. We love you, Mimi. And we are so thankful for the life, love, and legacy you gave us.

Memorial contributions are appreciated to St Jude Children’s Hospital, or Downriver  Foster Closet.