Although born wealthy through her mother's side, Janet's life was one of love and loss. She grew up without her parents. Her father, John Walter Smith, probably killed her mother, Sarah Truitt Cutright Smith, while drunk, and agreed to leave left his children and Chillicothe, Illinois forever after accepting $10,000 from Janet's enraged maternal grandparents, Nathaniel Stewart Cutright and Frances Emma Truitt Cutright. Janet did receive love and devotion from her grandparents who raised her and remained close to her throughout her life. However, she pined for her father even though she knew about the murder.
Janet enjoyed traveling internationally and met the love of her life and first husband, Jean G. LaBey, in France around 1930. After a passionate courtship, she brought him back to Peoria County to help run the canning business for which she was a board member and major stockholder. Unfortunately, he died in an auto accident only two years later. She kept his name for years afterward.
She met her second husband, Alfred Hoffeld, in Germany. They traveled the world, including to Cuba and France. He also helped her with the canning company in Hoopeston, Illinois.
After her beloved grandparents died and her second marriage fizzled, she moved to New York, NY. Well-read, she appreciated the sophisticated, cosmopolitan environment and settled into the east side, attending symphonies and the ballet, and staying active with the city's museums and library. A quiet person, she maintained a few close friendships. She grew very fond of her niece, Ruth, with whom she communicated often, sharing stories about her life.
Her last marriage was to another Frenchman, Brunel. Despite these three marriages, she remained childless, doting instead upon her niece's daughter, Renata.
Her final days included more international travel, but only by ship because she was afraid of airplanes. In 1978 she died in New York, but her remains made one final journey back to Chillicothe where she was interred with her grandparents, aunt, and mother.
Janet enjoyed traveling internationally and met the love of her life and first husband, Jean G. LaBey, in France around 1930. After a passionate courtship, she brought him back to Peoria County to help run the canning business for which she was a board member and major stockholder. Unfortunately, he died in an auto accident only two years later. She kept his name for years afterward.
She met her second husband, Alfred Hoffeld, in Germany. They traveled the world, including to Cuba and France. He also helped her with the canning company in Hoopeston, Illinois.
After her beloved grandparents died and her second marriage fizzled, she moved to New York, NY. Well-read, she appreciated the sophisticated, cosmopolitan environment and settled into the east side, attending symphonies and the ballet, and staying active with the city's museums and library. A quiet person, she maintained a few close friendships. She grew very fond of her niece, Ruth, with whom she communicated often, sharing stories about her life.
Her last marriage was to another Frenchman, Brunel. Despite these three marriages, she remained childless, doting instead upon her niece's daughter, Renata.
Her final days included more international travel, but only by ship because she was afraid of airplanes. In 1978 she died in New York, but her remains made one final journey back to Chillicothe where she was interred with her grandparents, aunt, and mother.
Although born wealthy through her mother's side, Janet's life was one of love and loss. She grew up without her parents. Her father, John Walter Smith, probably killed her mother, Sarah Truitt Cutright Smith, while drunk, and agreed to leave left his children and Chillicothe, Illinois forever after accepting $10,000 from Janet's enraged maternal grandparents, Nathaniel Stewart Cutright and Frances Emma Truitt Cutright. Janet did receive love and devotion from her grandparents who raised her and remained close to her throughout her life. However, she pined for her father even though she knew about the murder.
Janet enjoyed traveling internationally and met the love of her life and first husband, Jean G. LaBey, in France around 1930. After a passionate courtship, she brought him back to Peoria County to help run the canning business for which she was a board member and major stockholder. Unfortunately, he died in an auto accident only two years later. She kept his name for years afterward.
She met her second husband, Alfred Hoffeld, in Germany. They traveled the world, including to Cuba and France. He also helped her with the canning company in Hoopeston, Illinois.
After her beloved grandparents died and her second marriage fizzled, she moved to New York, NY. Well-read, she appreciated the sophisticated, cosmopolitan environment and settled into the east side, attending symphonies and the ballet, and staying active with the city's museums and library. A quiet person, she maintained a few close friendships. She grew very fond of her niece, Ruth, with whom she communicated often, sharing stories about her life.
Her last marriage was to another Frenchman, Brunel. Despite these three marriages, she remained childless, doting instead upon her niece's daughter, Renata.
Her final days included more international travel, but only by ship because she was afraid of airplanes. In 1978 she died in New York, but her remains made one final journey back to Chillicothe where she was interred with her grandparents, aunt, and mother.
Janet enjoyed traveling internationally and met the love of her life and first husband, Jean G. LaBey, in France around 1930. After a passionate courtship, she brought him back to Peoria County to help run the canning business for which she was a board member and major stockholder. Unfortunately, he died in an auto accident only two years later. She kept his name for years afterward.
She met her second husband, Alfred Hoffeld, in Germany. They traveled the world, including to Cuba and France. He also helped her with the canning company in Hoopeston, Illinois.
After her beloved grandparents died and her second marriage fizzled, she moved to New York, NY. Well-read, she appreciated the sophisticated, cosmopolitan environment and settled into the east side, attending symphonies and the ballet, and staying active with the city's museums and library. A quiet person, she maintained a few close friendships. She grew very fond of her niece, Ruth, with whom she communicated often, sharing stories about her life.
Her last marriage was to another Frenchman, Brunel. Despite these three marriages, she remained childless, doting instead upon her niece's daughter, Renata.
Her final days included more international travel, but only by ship because she was afraid of airplanes. In 1978 she died in New York, but her remains made one final journey back to Chillicothe where she was interred with her grandparents, aunt, and mother.
Inscription
CUTRIGHT
NATHANIEL STEWART CUTRIGHT
1850-1927
FRANCES EMMA CUTRIGHT
1849-1934
MARY FRANCES CUTRIGHT
1871-1873
SARAH TRUITT SMITH
1878-1907
JANET SMITH BRUNEL
1901-1978
