Nancy Marie (Bensken) Smith

Nancy Marie Smith (née Bensken), age 65, passed away surrounded by the love of those who knew her best. Born on June 11, 1961, Nancy was the cherished daughter of the late James and the late Virginia Bensken. She was raised alongside her beloved sister, Debra Livingston, with whom she shared a lifelong bond of love and family.

A proud graduate of Waterford Mott High School, Class of 1979, Nancy carried with her the values of kindness, hard work, and compassion throughout her life.

In 1986, Nancy met the love of her life, Martin Smith, through mutual friends. Their friendship grew strong from there. Their first date at The Shamrock in Utica, Michigan in late 2005 marked the beginning of a beautiful love story. That first date blossomed into a deep and lasting partnership, and on October 27, 2006, Nancy and Martin were married. Together they built a life founded on unconditional love, true friendship, laughter, and unwavering devotion. They treasured one another's company and found joy in simply being together.

Nancy found peace in the beauty of Northern Michigan, where she loved spending time surrounded by the woods and nature. She had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and enjoyed gardening, reading, caring for animals, and admiring the majesty of bears. She found happiness in life's simple pleasures and had a remarkable ability to make others feel seen, loved, and cared for.

A natural giver with a generous heart, Nancy poured herself into the lives of family, friends, coworkers, and the countless animals she lovingly cared for over the years. Her compassion extended into her professional life, where she faithfully served others for 25 years in the medical field before spending an additional eight years with the State of Michigan Treasury. She approached every role with dedication, integrity, and genuine care for those around her.

Nancy was a beloved aunt to six nieces and nephews and a proud great-aunt to nine great-nieces and great-nephews, all of whom brought her tremendous joy. Her love for her family was steadfast, and the memories they shared will be treasured forever.

Nancy's gentle spirit, generous heart, and quiet strength touched countless lives. Though her presence will be deeply missed, the love she gave so freely and the kindness she shared will continue to live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to know her.

A Memorial Service celebrating Nancy's life will be held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at St. Perpetua Catholic Church in Waterford. Family and friends are invited to gather beginning at 10:30 a.m., with the memorial service to follow at 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages those wishing to honor Nancy's memory to perform an act of kindness, care for an animal in need, or spend time enjoying the beauty of nature; simple acts that reflected the way Nancy chose to live each day.

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