Danielle Nicole Smith

In Loving Memory of Danielle Nicole Smith

With a heart full of love and a bright light that lit up every room, 29-year-old Danielle Nicole Smith left us far too soon on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.  She was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, fiancee’, sister, niece, great niece, cousin, loyal friend, and Mommy to her two fur-babies.  Danielle was diagnosed with Stage 3 infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast in January 2021.  Throughout her journey, she fought with unwavering strength, amazing grace, and an indomitable spirit.  She inspired everyone that was blessed to know her! Danielle was born on Sunday, May 14, 1995 in Wheeling, West Virginia at Ohio Valley Medical Center to Amanda Shank Jones and Donnie Smith.  Her mommy called her “baby girl” and her daddy called her “pumpkin” right from the start and never deviated from referring to her by those terms of endearment.  She was known for her kindness, compassion, sense of humor (loving a great practical joke) as well as being fearless & brave and would stand up for herself and others when called upon to do so!  She was adventurous and fun!

She attended the University of Cincinnati majoring in Nursing.   Danielle went back to school and received an Associate of Applied Science in Cyber Security and Computer Forensics at Belmont College in December 2023.   She was currently employed with Neurobehavioral Medicine Consultants in Bellaire, Ohio as the Front Desk Clerk.  She was loved by all her coworkers who became her friends and supporters.  While attending the University of Cincinnati she announced that she was going to study abroad in Europe, specifically to the Middle East, traveling to the country of Cyprus.  So, at the age of 20, Danielle stepped foot in an airport for the first time and flew 5800 miles, crossing the Atlantic to Cyprus!  While in Cyprus she ventured out and decided to visit Israel and was so excited to tell her family that she got to walk where Jesus walked!  Danielle described this as a life-changing event that impacted her greatly!  

Danielle was so beautiful, inside and out, and people were drawn to her when she walked into a room.  She had a passion for so many things, such as baking and decorating for Christmas, or really every season and holiday.  Last Christmas she was so excited to make new ornaments and bows for her Grandma Margie’s new flocked tree, staying up late into the night to get it accomplished.  She got the recipe for her great grandma Lila’s famous nut rolls and each year spent a couple of days preparing them and baking dozens and dozens all day long to give away and enjoy.  It was a tradition for her Grandma and Mom, handed down through the years.  She loved to go to Hobby Lobby to pick out items to design a room or wall for herself or others.  She was a “girly-girl” as well as a “not afraid to dig in the dirt girl”.  Just this past summer she put in a large vegetable garden, planted wildflowers along the house, assisted her fiance’ Greg in a construction project by replacing new decking on her grandma’s front porch, with toolbelt on and hammer in hand, not afraid to get sweaty or dirty!  A few years ago she went hunting,  bagging her first deer, learning to skin and field dress it!  She took charge of remodeling her bedroom, and with Greg’s assistance, tore up the carpet, painted, laid a new floor, picked out all the extras to make her room just the way she envisioned and planned.  Danielle could have been a makeup artist as well.  She loved to do her makeup and hair and always looked like a model, with or without being made up, but that was a fun part of her life!  She loved sharing makeup tips with her twin sisters and brother’s girlfriend.  She enjoyed shopping with her Mom, meeting up for dinner, always planning for special occasions, and going to games with her Dad, making him special Purple Rider t-shirts.   She had long conversations with her little brother who towered over her in height, they always enjoyed being around each other from the very first day he was born.  She has had many days of playing with her baby brother as well.   Danielle was fiercely protective of her siblings and wished nothing but the best for them and wanted all their dreams to come true.  

Several close family members have already made the journey to Heaven before her and we know the reunion must have been amazing:  Grandma Patty Smith, Great Grandparents Edward & Lila Shank, Great Aunt Dorothy (Dot) Shank Pelkey, cousins Barri Shank and Darrin Shank.   

Left to cherish her memory are her mother Amanda Shank Jones and Nate Jones of Salineville, father Donnie Smith and Ashley Laffey of Rayland, her fiance’ and best friend Greg Taggart of Wheeling, WV, siblings Logan Smith and his girlfriend Madisyn Klayko, twin sisters Makenna & Madalyne Jones, and baby brother Brighton Smith .  Also left to treasure her memory are her grandparents, Grandma Margie Shank Wiseman of Tiltonsville, with whom she resided, Grandfathers Jeff Wiseman of Yorkville and Don Smith of Rayland.  

Danielle always wanted a dog and she did her research to see what was the best breed, one that would be affectionate, loyal, playful, and a cuddler.   She became mommy to Gunner, her beloved French bulldog.  During her breast cancer diagnosis and treatment Gunner was just what she needed.  After almost 1 year of having Gunner, she informed her grandma it was time for her to get a dog as the opportunity arose to get Gunner’s cousin.  So, Bingo was added to the family!  We are thankful that God gives us good gifts and created fur-babies for us to enjoy and love.  Gunner and Bingo gave Danielle so much love and a whole lot of laughter.  Her “boys”, the name Danielle always affectionately referred to as, will continue to be well-loved and cared for by fiance’ Greg and Grandma Margie.  

Danielle has a big loving family on both sides, to include many aunts, uncles, great- aunts, great-uncles, cousins, and friends she considered family.  They all loved her dearly.  Danielle’s spirit will live on in each of us as we remember to live like her with love, laughter, and a never-give-up attitude.  

She also spent many evenings with a special friend, Shirley Salvatori, having great conversations and watching Shirley’s favorite shows.

Danielle asked Jesus into her heart when she was little with her Mama teaching her the scripture verse from John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”.   Danielle is enjoying her home in Heaven because of Jesus dying on the Cross for us and she would want that for everyone.  

A celebration of Danielle’s life will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at Borkoski’s Funeral Home at 337 Jefferson Street in Tiltonsville beginning at 11 a.m. for visitation until 3 p.m., at which time a Christian service will be conducted by Pastor Justin Hill, Senior Minister/First Christian Church/Martins Ferry.   A dinner will be held at 4:30 p.m. at the Dillonvale Fire Department at 153 Main Street in Dillonvale, Ohio.  Everyone is invited to have a time of fellowship with Danielle’s family. 

Thank you to all for your outpouring of love, your prayers were felt and we continue to feel them.  May God bless you all!

In lieu of flowers, a GoFundMe has been set up to help Danielle’s family with funeral costs and any additional unforeseen expenses:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/hje6t-support-danielle-nicole-smiths-family-honor-her-memory

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