Jenella M Smith

Jenella Mae Smith, 96, of Alpena, formerly of Port Huron, died Monday, April 25, 2022.

She was born April 14, 1926 in Warsaw, New York to the late Elbert and Ruth Carpenter. She married Norbert W. Smith on June 14, 1949 in Warsaw, New York. He died April 28, 1991 after 42 years of marriage. She married Mikhail Emelianov of Moscow, Russia on August 24, 1995. He died March 28, 2022.

Jenella attended Warsaw High School and graduated in 1944. She attended Albion College and received a Bachelor’s degree, with a major in Sociology. Jenella was a member of the Albion Choir and its 8-voice Madrigal Singers. In 1949 she obtained a teacher’s certificate. She taught elementary school in Albion and also in Brookline, Massachusetts, eventually changing to adult education, teaching in Saginaw, Port Huron and Warren, Michigan.

She enjoyed gardening, sewing (especially making sleeping bags and quilts for the homeless), reading, writing poetry, composing music, bird watching, camping, baking, cross country skiing and photography. She also enjoyed corresponding with friends and relatives, as well as a few celebrities, such as Christy Brown, poet and writer of Ireland, the late Jill Jackson, co-composer of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and the late Dr. Howard Thurman, writer, preacher, lecturer and former Dean of Boston University Chapel.

Jenella enjoyed traveling which included trips to 46 states and 16 trips outside of the U.S., 9 of which were to Russia. She and her family hosted an exchange student from Rio in 1971 and in 1998 she was a Volunteer in Mission to Bolivia for 2 weeks. She was often invited to speak about her travels.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, Church Women United, a Study Club, Port Huron Musicale and was a former member of the Musicale Chorus. She was an occasional volunteer for Habitat for Humanity and a member of the International Club.

She is survived by two children, Donna Smith and Marlon (DeAnn) Smith; two grandchildren, Travis (Erin) and Justin; three great grandchildren; sister-in-law, Florence Roberts; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her siblings, Warren Carpenter, Dauphine (Richard) McBride and Orville (Beatrice) Carpenter; and in-laws, Chester and Dorothy Smith and Valdimir and Taheesia Emelianov,

Graveside services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2022 in Lakeside Cemetery.

Local arrangements are by Pollock-Randall Funeral Home. To send condolences, visit pollockrandall.com