Permanent Change

A friend told me about a tradition she had heard from an ancient Inca village somewhere in south America. The tradition requires that the night a villager dies, each house or establishment, every farm and fisherman have to permanently alter something visible.  Something about their house or yard, the color, the shape, something permanent has to change. They do this to honor those that are left behind.  For those left behind after death, their world has been permanently altered.  Things will never be the same, ever. The next day, when the loved ones walk through the village, they will know the villagers understand that their world has been permanently altered. Death is honored in this way.

I love that story whether true or not. It is how I feel today as I look at the world. Life will never be the same.  Ever.  I will miss her everyday. Some days it will be disabling, and some days it will barely register. Everyday I will see her around me, feel her around me, and hear her voice in my head. And I will be forever grateful for that.

Obituary for Janis Carter Smith

Janis Carter Smith, age 65, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family in the early morning on October 4, 2017.

Janis was born May 2, 1952 in Brigham City, Utah to Shirl Fred Carter and Wilma Louise Walker (Deceased), and was the oldest of 4 girls. Known for her quilts and handwork, Janis was an accomplished seamstress, a passion she carried her entire life. She had tremendous musical talents and abilities.  One of her favorite things growing up was accompanying her father while he sang.  She taught piano lessons to countless children throughout her life and instilled in her own family a love for music in all styles and forms. A gifted teacher, Janis spent her entire life teaching others through word and deed. Her top priority was always her family and children. She sacrificed many of her own ambitions to stay home and raise children, something she valued very much.  She was a strong woman with a definite knowledge of right and wrong.  She was constantly found defending what she believed to be right.

Janis was baptized into and had a strong testimony of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many church callings.  Her favorite, by far, was being able to teach seminary.  She loved to share her experiences with the gospel and her testimony to the youth of the church. She and her husband David, were honored to have worked in the Oquirrh Mountain temple.

She married David Curtis Smith (Deceased) on September 8, 1972 in the Los Angeles California temple.  They are the proud parents of 7 children; Melody Ann; Annjeanette (Deceased); Amy Louise; Michael David, (Michelle Dalley); Robert Wayne (Katie Bills); Abigail Frances; and Andrew Carter, (Alina Derevnina).  They are also the loving grandparents to six perfect grandsons and two perfect granddaughters.

Janis was preceded in death and has been reunited with her husband David, daughter Annjeanette, mother Wilma, sister Julie, and many other loving grandparents and relatives.

She is survived by her father Shirl, Pleasanton, CA, 2 sisters: Jodie Stoddart, Alta Loma, CA, Krista Anderson, La Crescenta, CA and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at the Lindon 6^th Ward Chapel, 56 East 600 North, Lindon, Utah. A viewing will be held from 9:30-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Interment will be in the Timpanogos Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Condolences may be expressed at www.bergmortuary.com.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the LDS Perpetual Education fund that helps struggling individuals get an education and better their lives.  Donations can be made at: http://bit.ly/2z2n3AR

The family would like to express their gratitude and appreciation to the Intermountain Hospice Care employees.