Lenora Smith Rychlak

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Lenora Smith Rychlak, 87, of Oxford, Mississippi passed away on August 7, 2022.

The daughter of Luther Lee and Mae Belle Livingston Smith, she was born in Evans, West Virginia on April 4, 1935. She grew up in Ohio and attended Columbus Business College and The Ohio State University. While working at the VA Hospital in Chillicothe, Ohio, she met Joseph Frank Rychlak, a psychology intern, and they married on June 16, 1956.

A stay-at-home mom, she was involved in various community, school, and church activities. Dr. Rychlak taught at five different universities, and Lenora enjoyed making friends and getting to know new people and places. She edited his books and papers and helped with research projects. During the 16 years while her husband was teaching at Loyola University of Chicago, she had an office at the school and handled the duties associated with his research, teaching assistants, and travel. He passed away in 2013. She moved to Oxford in 2016.

She is survived by her son Ronald (Claire), Oxford, MS; daughter Stephanie Stilson (Todd), Kennesaw, GA; eight grandchildren Joseph Rychlak (Alexandra); Lindsey Wilkins (Richard); Susanna Allen (Will); Mary Helen, Sally, and Olivia Rychlak; Robert Stilson (Courtney); and Scott Stilson; two great-grandsons (Henry and James Stilson); and one great-granddaughter (Samantha Wilkins). Also her sister Grace Prince; brothers Edward (Debbie) Smith and Ernest (Joyce) Smith; and sister-in-law Joan Rychlak.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Waller Funeral Home in Oxford and Flanner and Buchanan in Carmel, Indiana.

A memorial Mass will be held in Oxford, Mississippi at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Wednesday, August 10. Visitation begins at 9:30 a.m. followed by Mass at 10:00 a.m.

Burial will be at Our Lady of Peace Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday, August 12. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. followed by Mass in the chapel at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Oxford Food Pantry, P.O. Box 588, Oxford, MS 38655, where Lenora was a volunteer.