Carol Jean Smith

Carol Jean Smith, 70, of Storrs, CT passed away peacefully on July 5, 2016. Carol was born on March 10, 1946 in Willimantic, CT to the late Charles and Camilla (Nowak) Tranka. She graduated from E.O. Smith High School in 1964 and then went on to receive her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Connecticut in 1968. She met the love of her life, her husband Donald Smith, when she was writing letters to soldiers in Vietnam to send them her support. Initially her letter was sent to one of Donald’s bunkmates, but since he was receiving so many letters he began giving them out for other Airmen to respond to. Fate took a hand and what started as friendship grew into love and they were married in 1969.

Carol worked for the State of Connecticut in the now closed Mansfield Training School as an aid in a number of the buildings and built lifelong friendships with her coworkers. While injured on the job she was forced to medically retire in the early 80’s. As many of you will know it was at this time that she began a decade’s long fight with agoraphobia, the fear of open spaces. She persevered, and with the Grace of God she was able to finally overcome her condition and once more venture out into the world and begin attending Mass on a regular basis. It was her faith in God and His love and mercy that allowed her to come to understanding and peace with the death of her husband Donald in 2009. In the last seven years since his passing she has been greatly comforted by those on the Grief Committee at St. Thomas Aquinas and the regular visits that Fr. John paid to her where “Jesus would come to visit her” as she would say it.

She would not want us to grieve, but rather know that we will all see each other again one day. If she could she would give us all one last “Huggy, huggy, kissey, kissey” which was her fond farewell to anyone who came to see her.

Carol is survived by her son Christopher, her sister Patricia Ausburger, many nieces and nephews and cousins whom she loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her name to the St. Thomas Aquinas Capital Campaign or the Norwich Diocese Catholic Charities Organization, both of which were dear to her heart.

A Memorial Mass will take place 11:00 am Saturday, July 9, 2016 at St. Thomas Aquinas Chapel 46 N. Eagleville Rd. Storrs, CT with a burial to follow in the Storrs Cemetery.

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