Jennie N. Smith

Jennie was born on March 29, 1928 in the small village of Den Bommel, the Netherlands. At the age of two, Jennie, along with her sister, Nellie, and her parents, Elbert and Dorothy Keuvelaar, immigrated to the United States and settled in New Jersey. When she was twelve, the family moved to Denver. By that time, the family had grown to include three more siblings: Paulina, John and Adriana.

From her first day in school, she dreamt of becoming a teacher. She achieved that goal after attending Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan and the University of Denver. She taught kindergarten through sixth-grade and later became a Principal at Denver Christian School.

She was happily married to Robert Smith until his death in 1971. Soon after, she gave up her career as a school teacher to focus on caring for her three children, Dottie, Critt and Bron.

Jennie's life was built around the love of Christ. The church was an integral part of her life. She was passionate about cooking, sewing, embroidery and gardening. She kept busy with countless friends and social acquaintances and held a long-term leadership role with TOPS (Take Off Pounds Sensibly.) She inspired many members to develop new habits and adopt an attitude towards healthier eating.

She was recently deemed the "Freezer Queen." Her frugal Dutch upbringing taught her to conserve and preserve every crumb. Even until her final hours, she had a complete mental inventory of what was in each freezer and its exact location. The kids didn't dare throw anything away for fear of her finding out. Now Dot and Bron have the unpleasant task of cleaning up, even though most items are from dates and places unknown.

Jennie had a genuine love for life and a thirst for knowledge. Her love of art, theatre and travel kept her constantly seeking new experiences and more of life's treasures. A highlight in her life was a trip to Holland to visit her birthplace, and the following year, a visit to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Jennie's unwavering faith in God was demonstrated in her every action. She will continue to inspire her children, church, friends and community. Her children were blessed to have a mother who was a glowing example of faith, charity, gratitude and love.