Sandra Lee Smith, 75, of Rapid River, passed away peacefully Friday evening, January 12, 2018 at her son’s home in Negaunee. She was in the loving care of her family and Lake Superior Hospice.
Sandra was born March 24, 1942 in Marquette to Howard and Bernice (Dauphinais) Lemire and graduated from Graveraet High School, Class of 1960. She married the love of her life, Claude Smith, on December 20, 1974 and they established the family home in West Ishpeming.
Mrs. Smith began her employment career as a beauty consultant for Mary Kay Cosmetics and later worked at Johnson’s Pharmacy in Ishpeming. While living in Rapid River, she was employed in the bakery at the Rapid River Mini Mart. Sandra and Claude retired in 1990 and moved into their beautiful home on Lake Michigan.
Sandra was vibrant, kind, caring, had love and enthusiasm for life and was a woman of great strength. She treasured her longtime friends and loved ones. Sandra enjoyed walking six miles each day, blueberry picking, making pickles, and was an amazing cook, often making delicious pasties and homemade sauerkraut. She also enjoyed playing cards and working puzzles with her loved ones. Claude and Sandra cherished many memories with their lifelong friends.
Surviving are two sons: Rico (Hope) Torreano of Marquette and Barry (Mary) Torreano of Negaunee; her daughter, Valentina Torreano of Monroe, NJ; step-son, Guy (Susan) Smith of Ishpeming; two step-daughters: Claudia (Michael) Anderson of Medford, OR and Yvonne (Bill) Nelson of Ishpeming; 16 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brothers: Neil (Michele) and Wayne (Pat) Lemire; sisters: Debbie Havel and Dena (Bob) Soli; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband Claude on October 30, 2016; beloved brother Junior Lemire and sister Barbara Kalbfleisch; and two step-daughters, Emily Biesecker and Antoinette Moreno.
Memorial services will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 16th at the Koskey Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Douglas Mercer officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends for one hour prior to services at the funeral home on Tuesday, and also a dessert reception in the Immanuel Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall immediately following services. Inurnment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of SANDRA LEE SMITH (Lemire), please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.