Juanita "Nete" Smith

March 26, 1945 - March 23, 2022

Juanita “Nete” Smith, age 76, of Rensselaer, Indiana, passed away on Wednesday, March 23, 2022. She was born on March 26, 1945, the daughter of Hargis Hopkins and Myrtle Allen. Nete married John Smith on June 16, 2018, in Rensselaer and he survives. She worked as a factory employee at Sealy Springs for eighteen years and the former Northway Products in Rensselaer for sixteen years. Then she worked at St. Joseph’s College for five years. Nete enjoyed woodworking and remodeling. She also liked to cook, and she was a very avid card player. Most importantly, Nete loved to spend time with her family. She will be missed dearly. Nete is survived by her husband, John, of Rensselaer, IN; children, Etta Marie Russell of Greenwood, Toney (Ida) Cotner Jr. of Rensselaer, Donita (James Lewis) Cotner of Rensselaer, Jodie (Rich) Marino of Las Vegas, and Lorie (Jarod) Barber of Rensselaer; siblings, Silas “Pete” Hopkins, Daisy (Delbert) Craft, and Beulah McEwen, all of Rensselaer; twenty grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren. Nete was preceded in death by her parents; son, Edward Lee Cotner; daughter, Daphne Meyer; former husband, Toney Cotner Sr.; eleven brothers and sisters. Friends may call on the family on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM CDT at Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer. A Funeral Service will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at 10:30 AM CDT at Jackson Funeral Chapel of Rensselaer with Pastor Andy Martin officiating. Interment to follow at Memory Gardens of Rensselaer. The family has requested memorial contributions in the form of random acts of kindness and by “paying it forward” to your fellow human beings.