Gloria Jean Smith, nee Minder, 85 of Belleville, IL, born January 1941, in East St. Louis, IL, died Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Cedar Ridge Health Care, Lebanon, IL.
Gloria was a businesswoman and started two businesses of her own. She owned and operated Smith Food Distributing from 1974-1983. Gloria along with her husband Rod and their family opened the Crystal and Spice Shoppe in March of 1983. She loved her customers and they loved her. Many knew her as Mama Jean or the Spice Shoppe Lady. She loved to tell all her stories and share her love of spiced teas and coffees. She was a graduate of East Louis High School. She was a past member of the Terminal Railroad Association of St. Louis, the Wives and Daughters Association, the Jobs Daughters International, and the Girl Scouts. Gloria was also a former member of First Presbyterian Church of East. St. Louis, IL.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 59 years, Roderick “Rod” Alvin Smith, whom she married on June 25, 1960, and who died on July 19, 2019; her parents, Kenneth Eugen and Anna Hazel, nee Paul, Minder; and Parents In-law O.A. Smith and Gladys Dove Smith nee Gillespie and a brother-in-law, A. Wayne Smith.
Surviving are a daughter, Kimberly (Richard) Hankammer; a son, Todd (Kimberly) Smith; three grandchildren, William Anthony Espejo Hankammer, Makayla Lynn Smith, and Andrew Austin Smith; a sister-in-law, Helen Smith; and two nephews and their families.
Memorials may be made to TreeHouse Wildlife Center at www.treehousewildlifecenter.com. Or send to TreeHouse Wildlife Center at 23956 Green Acres Rd. Dow, Il. 62022. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may visit from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, October 12, 2026, and from 9 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with Pastor Shaun McGurie officiating.
Burial will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens, Fairview Heights, IL.
