Father Jerome Feeley Smith

STREATOR — A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Michael the Archangel Church here at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 30, for Father Jerome Feeley Smith, who was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Peoria and later became a commissioned officer in the Chaplain Corps of the U.S. Navy.

Father Smith died on May 3, 2022, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was 63.

Msgr. Philip Halfacre, vicar general of the Diocese of Peoria and pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish, will be principal celebrant of the funeral Mass. Visitation is scheduled for an hour at the church prior to the Mass on Friday.

Burial will be in St. Stephen’s Cemetery, Streator. Cremation rites have been accorded.

Born Sept. 9, 1958, in Oak Park to Willliam John and Mary (Barlow) Smith, he was graduated from Glenbard East High School in Lombard. He worked for Continental Grain Company from 1980 to 1984, O’Connor and Company from 1984 to 1988, and as an independent consultant from 1988 to 1990.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Holy Apostles College in Cromwell, Connecticut, in 1992 and completed studies for the priesthood at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, receiving a master of divinity degree. As a transitional deacon, he served St. Columba Parish in Ottawa and taught at Marquette High School.

Father Smith was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop John J. Myers on Dec. 15, 1996.

His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Streator and part-time teacher at Marquette. Two years later, he added duties as parochial vicar at St. Casimir Parish, also in Streator.

In 1999, he was named pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Farmer City and St. John, Bellflower.

Following a leave of absence, Father Smith joined the U.S. Navy in 2002 as a commissioned officer in the Chaplain Corps, serving on sea duty in the Far East.

He was known for a deep love for the Blessed Mother and the rosary.

Father Smith is survived by siblings Gregory (Kaye) Smith, William Smith , Mary Louise Davis, Barbara (Jon) Morgan, Patricia (Casey) Noxon, Thomas (Margret) Smith, James Smith, Colleen (Thomas) LaMantia, and Robert (Boni) Smith, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant brother.

Memorials may be made to St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Streator.