Edith S. Smith

Edith (Siegrist) Smith of Hebron, widow of the late Edwin Richardson Smith, peacefully passed away at home on July 3 after a brief illness. During the past few months she was surrounded by her loving family and her wonderful caregivers. She was born on August 10, 1920 in Willimantic, CT. After graduating from Windham High School as valedictorian, she and Edwin, the love of her life, went on to the Univ. of CT. They were married in 1942, shortly after they graduated. While at UCONN she practice taught at Norwich Free Academy, and after graduating at the top of her college class with a mathematics degree, she began working for Pratt & Whitney. With her husband and children, she then lived in Hebron Norfolk VA, Adams MA, East Longmeadow MA, and upstate NY. After Edwin retired they moved back to the Smith family farm in Hebron where she stayed after his death. They shared 43 years together before he predeceased her. She was also predeceased by her parents, George W. Siegrist and Amalie (Ruschmann) Siegrist. Edith had a lifelong passion for the outdoors: gardening, flowers hiking, bird watching, and gazing at the ocean. She also had a great love for all animals, many of whom adopted her. In addition, she always enjoyed reading and solving puzzles of any kind. Besides her children, John R. Smith, and his wife Susan, of Tucson AZ, Gail E. Smith of Glastonbury, and Ellene V. Smith of Hebron, she is survived by 5 grandchildren, Kristina Smith, Brian Smith, Justin Smith, Thomas Montana, and Kathleen Montana; 2 great-grandchildren a sister-in-law, Marie Billard of Hebron, and several nephews and their families. Calling hours will begin at 10:00 am on Friday July 7, followed by a memorial service at 11:00am at Potter Funeral Home,456 Jackson St. (Rte. 195) Willimantic. Burial will follow at the New Willimantic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, NY 10021; or the Connecticut Humane Society, 701 Russell Road Newington CT 06111.