Ilona Maria Smith, age 84, passed away on Saturday May 4th, 2024, at Agrace Hospice in Madison, Wisconsin. She was born on June 17th, 1939, In Greenland Michigan, the daughter of Bertha Helen (Uotila) Smith and Oiva Raymond Smith of Mass City, Michigan. Ilona graduated from Mass High School in 1957. She furthered her education at Michigan State University, graduating in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science Degree.
After graduation Ilona drove out west, eventually settling in Ventura, California where she lived with the love of her life Richard "Dick" Zizic, her partner for about 60 years. Ilona had a few employers, with the latest being the County of Ventura, working as a secretary/receptionist. Ilona and Dick also lived in Iran for about 18 months in 1976-77 where Dick was a draftsman/designer, and Ilona a secretary/receptionist. After Dick passed away in late August of 2023, Ilona moved to Madison, Wisconsin with their kitty "Jeteye" whom she cherished. She loved to sing and performed some during her high school years, even getting on local radio with a couple of close friends.
Ilona was proud to have been a cheerleader in 1955, when the boys basketball team won the state title. She loved sports including tennis, basketball and football, but her passions were playing bridge and tennis. Ilona was proficient enough to teach beginners bridge, and she and Dick attended several amateur and professional tennis matches including Indian Wells, the US Open, and the Australian Open, and if you visited their home, tennis was almost always on their TV. Ilona also loved to travel, notably to Finland the home of her ancestors.
Ilona is survived by her brother Charles Alfred Smith whose wife Rosemary Wiitala Smith passed away three days after Ilona, her chosen grandchildren Casey, Ande, and Keegan and their mother Lauri Aicher of Seattle, Washington. Ilona was preceded in death by her partner Dick, her parents Oiva and Bertha, her brother Raymond Felix Smith of Dearborn, Michigan, her chosen daughter Sharon Walton and son Shawn Walton both of Seattle.
Ilona chose to be cremated without a funeral service. Her ashes will be placed near her parents, brother Raymond, and sister-in-law Rosemary, at Maple Grove Cemetery in Greenland, Michigan.
Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
(608) 238-3434
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