Gisele Lucienne Smith

Gisele Lucienne Smith, nee (Chatron) of Willoughby Hills, OH (formerly of Indianapolis) died on April 8, 2020 at the age of 86. She was born March 1, 1934 in Rennes, France to the late Armaud and Louise Chatron. Growing up, our mom shared so many various  stories with us about her entire life. Sharing with all of you reminds me of so many different parts of our lives, good and bad. Mom told us she was born in Rennes, France and experienced love and at the same time a very traumatic childhood. She told us about her Loving father, her mother, her brothers and sisters along with the life she endured during the war and that she was lucky enough to be sent to the United States (Ohio) at the age of 11. She finished growing up in the U.S. with stories about strict nuns and meeting her husband (Harold Smith) to traveling around the world giving birth to her first-born Ken and then four years later Dave. Mom said she always tested her free spirit and challenged life as it came at her. Four years later, living in Cincinnati, Ohio, in the sixties, on the edge of divorce, a very questionable time, she gave birth to her third son, Scot. Mom made a move to Indianapolis, Indiana and split up with Harold. In the years to follow, she met Robert Hayes and four years later gave birth to her fourth son Robby. Raising four boys, with the life she had been shown, had to be a real challenge. She did what she thought was right along the way. Mom did the best she could, creating a new future for her family; she was hired and employed by Methodist Hospital. Mom was certainly challenged, raising four boys, with new life lessons to come. There was never a lack for drama during our life lessons. No matter what challenges she faced, she always tried to keep her sons together. Mom retired from Methodist Hospital after all 49 of her dedicated years of service there, where she was very well respected. Mom was always giving, helping the needy and providing comfort to those less fortunate. My best memories were spending time outdoors at the parks. Mom made those moments reappear with all twelve of her grandchildren and two great-grandchildren as we repeated our remembered times growing up. Mom would sit on a bench, watching all of us walk, run and climb trees. We always had a bucket of Kentucky fried chicken to enjoy. Mom never changed as we all grew up and grew apart learning our own life lessons. In her recent years, upon meeting new faces and friends, she would always end a conversation with “peace out” or “for schizzle manizzle.” You can imagine the response and laughter that created, hearing those words come from an eighty-six-year-old French woman. Mom certainly made an impact on every person she met. Mom’s lifelong mission was to always keep her sons and now their children together and still to this day in mom’s last words she could only say, she was worried about all her sons. I told Mom, we will get it together and it will all be okay… Love you always Mom. She is survived by sons Scot Chatron (Donna); David Smith (Debbie); Robby Smith  (Heather); and Ken Smith (Debrah)  12 Grandchildren, and 2 Great Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by grandson Duncan Zachary and brothers and sisters The family is holding private services.