North Falmouth – Jean Frances (Palanza) Smith of North Falmouth, MA and North Palm Beach, FL died on January 23, 2018 at the age of 83 after a long struggle with Lewy Body Disease.
Jeannie was born in Foxborough, MA on October 22, 1934, the sixth of fifteen children to the late Salvatore and Mary DeLutis Palanza of Mansfield. Jeannie graduated from Mansfield High School before being employed at the Foxboro Company for many years. After raising her four children in Mansfield, she moved to Hyannis where she worked at Colonial Candle Company. She eventually found summer employment on Cape Cod at the Wianno Club, and winter employment at the Bath and Tennis Club in Palm Beach, Florida, which allowed her to spend the winters in the warmer climate she loved so much. She was the former wife of Vincent T. Smith for 25 years.
Jeannie’s large family was the center of her life. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Mary and Salvatore Palanza of Mansfield, brothers William Palanza of Mansfield; Albert Palanza of Greenville, SC; Richard Palanza of North Easton, MA, and John Palanza of East Falmouth; and sisters Phyllis Palanza Kuplast of Mansfield and Sally Palanza Rogowski of Mansfield. She is survived by Corinne Conroy of Mansfield; Daniel Palanza of Falmouth, MA; Mary Joan and John Todesco of Mansfield; Susan and Peter DeGirolamo of Mansfield; Christine and Theodore Doherty of Hyannis, MA; Peggy and Robert Whaley of Attleboro, MA; Eugene Palanza of Mansfield; Robert Palanza and Carol Geoffroy of Venice, FL; Dori Palanza of North Easton, MA, and Susie Palanza of East Falmouth, MA. Unbelievably Jeannie had over 100 nephews and nieces.
Jeannie is survived by her children; Peggy Bushy and her husband Thomas of North Falmouth; Thomas Smith and his wife Elena of Pascoag, RI; Robert Smith and his wife Lisa of East Falmouth, and Stephen Smith and his wife Kerry of Mansfield. Also her grandchildren Tom and Traci Bushy of Waquoit, MA, Michael Bushy and Rebecca Strout of Pittsfield, MA, Joe and Leslie Bushy of East Falmouth, Spencer Smith of Chicago, IL, Sydney Smith of East Falmouth, Diana Stamatelatos of Slatersville, RI, Tommy and Kelly Smith of Pascoag, RI, and William and Francesca Smith of Mansfield; and six great grandchildren.
Visiting hours will be held from 5-8pm on Sunday, March 11, at the Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 584 West Falmouth Hwy (Route 28A). A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11am on Monday, March 12 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, 167 East Falmouth Hwy (Route 28) in East Falmouth.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the: Phyllis Kuplast Nursing Scholarship, c/o Susie DeGirolamo, 145 Fruit Street, Mansfield, MA 02048.
