Lael Theresa Larkin, 75, passed away on May 8, 2021, at St. Dominic Villa, Sinsinawa, WI following a 6-week battle with cancer. A gathering will be held from 2 to 4 PM, Sunday, June 6, 2021, at the Furlong Funeral Chapel, Galena, IL. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 AM, Monday June 7, 2021, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Hazel Green, WI officiated by Father Dan Davis. Committal service will be held in Calvary Cemetery, Sioux City, IA at 9:30 AM on Wednesday, June 9, 2021, officiated by Deacon Fred Karpuk. Daughter of Philip and Eileen (McGrane) Larkin, Lael was born on October 27, 1945, in Sioux City, IA. Her parents were the proprietors of the Larkin Funeral Homes. She shared her childhood with her eight siblings, Shaun, Michael, Maureen, Gene, Kevin, Kerry, Robert (Dennis) and Padraic. She attended Blessed Sacrament Elementary and graduated from Bishop Heelan Catholic High School in 1963. She went on to complete her nurses training at Saint Vincent Hospital School of Nursing in 1967. Lael was married to Daniel C. Smith from 1972-1977, and they had three “wonderful children” (as she always said). She practiced nursing in variety of settings including metal health, chemical dependence recovery and nursing homes. She worked in multiple cities including Minneapolis, MN; Dubuque, IA; Sioux City, IA; Steamboat Springs, CO and Sioux Falls, SD. She spent the largest portion of her nursing career as the Director of Nursing at the Good Samarian Village in Sioux Falls, SD. Later in her career, she spent time training certified nursing assistants and as a grief counselor at her family’s business. She moved to Hazel Green, WI, in 2007, and resided at the Academy Senior Apartments in Sinsinawa for the past 12 years. Lael is survived by her three children: Rebecca Kruse (Chad) of Galena, IL; David Smith (Hilary Howard) of Denver, CO; Barbara Smith (Marc Ternes) of San Marcos, CA; and her nine grandchildren: Evan, Ellis, Claire, Cole, Nixon, Eli, Orly, Rocky and Tali. Lael was an exceptionally loving mother, grandmother, sister, nurse, and friend. She had an unabated passion of caring for others, and she left a tremendous impression on those whose lives she touched. The size of her heart was felt in her beautiful smile, her infectious laugh, and her comforting hugs. Her home always welcomed family and friends. Her children’s friends often felt her home was more inviting than their own. No matter where she lived, her house was warm, fun, and carefree. Her walls and spaces were covered in photos, paintings, cards, books, and other cherished tokens of her life that were close to her heart and in her memories. As a nurse, Lael appreciated the wisdom that came with age and the dignity that is deserved with illness and vulnerability. She was immersed in the often-difficult balance of maintaining a successful career and being as a single mother, while still providing leadership and compassion to her patients and colleagues. Somehow, throughout the trials of life and the illness she battled, Lael was always able to demonstrate courage, faith, compassion, and an ever-present sense of humor. Lael cherished telling stories and was a prolific writer. She loved to send cards and letters. She wrote stories about her life and children that made her, and others laugh. Additionally, her faith and spirituality were endless. She penned numerous journals and referred to them as, “my letters between me and God.” She believed in a very loving and forgiving God, and she channeled those qualities well. As a mother and grandmother, Lael took great joy in the successes of her children and grandchildren. She loved attending sporting events, musical performances, plays, and graduations. She never failed to express how proud she was or how much she loved her family. It was nearly impossible to escape a visit with her without a hug or a kiss and her telling you how much she loved you. Lael was an amazingly social woman and was regularly active within the Al-Anon community. She loved to get coffee or lunch and attended countless support meetings. She was an empathetic listener and always willing to lend an ear or a shoulder to others as they faced life’s challenges. She would also be your biggest cheerleader when you triumphed in life. It is fair to say that Lael was constantly working on being a better person, but most would agree, people do not get much better than her. She will be missed terribly, but her love and light will carry on indefinitely through her family and friends. In lieu of flowers being sent to her funeral, Lael requested that all memorials be given to Hospice of Dubuque. She wanted to continue to give to those that touched her life dearly and to honor the exceptional care she received in her final weeks.  https://hospiceofdubuque.org/donation