Obituary of Janet Ellen Smith

Janet Ellen Smith, 60, of Freehold Township died suddenly of a brain hemorrhage Thursday, March 3, 2011, at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township. She was born in Plainfield. She was a sign language interpreter for the deaf. Jan was a member of the First Baptist Church, Freehold, where she served as Secretary of the Deacon Board and member of the Memorials Committee. She was a former member of the First-Park Baptist Church, Plainfield, and the Point Pleasant Presbyterian Church. She was a four-year member of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf. She participated with her husband in the Positive Earth Drivers Club, a British sports car driving club. A bright woman with a loving and giving spirit, Jan was a dog enthusiast, an avid exercise and fitness person, artist, and at the time of death was an organ donor. She attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, where she was a pre-med student. Surviving are her loving husband of 24 years, Gary C. Smith; her father, William H. Thorne; a sister, Rev. Phyllis A. Heffner; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roy and Ginger Smith. A memorial service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Freehold on Saturday, May 14, at 1:00 PM with Rev. William L. Frederickson officiating. Memorial donations to the First Baptist Church, 81 West Main Street, Freehold, NJ 07728 would be appreciated. Higgins Memorial Home, Freehold is in charge of arrangements.