WESTFIELD: Dorothy Helen Smith (May) 93, passed away on Friday, December 31, 2021, at the CareOne Redstone facility in East Longmeadow, MA.
Dorothy was born January 25, 1928. Daughter of William and Carrie (Hanson) May, Dottie grew up with her brother, Georgie, by the beach in South Boston. Since childhood she was devoted to God, attending church with her mother, pledging to the Loyal Temperance Legion, and teaching Sunday school. Always a shy but happy soul, as a teenager, she enjoyed singing in the Glee Club, and navigated her way by train around Boston to go roller skating, dancing the jitter-bug, or to the movies. She graduated from South Boston High in 1945, and was married in 1947 to John J. Smith, with whom she would spend her life. Dottie and Johnny were blessed with five children and the large family she had always longed for. After spending fifteen years in Southern California they returned to their home state in 1967, settling in Westfield, where the family has since grown and resided.
All who knew Dottie loved her kind, gentle nature, and generosity. Her beautiful spirit radiated through her smile. Down to earth, she strived to live a Christian life, putting others above herself, and donating to many charities for people and animals. Throughout her life she has shared her faith and her love for people and animals with her children. She shared her love of music with her family whether singing around the house or along with her husband, as he played the guitar. Dottie also loved to work, and after raising her family she held manufacturing jobs at the Westfield Evening News and the Westfield Whip Mfg. Company, where she continued to work until the age of 80. She enjoyed working with her hands, and did the hand-finishing work on all whips in her more than twenty years with the company. Sewing and crocheting were other talents Dottie shared with her daughters, as she fashioned clothes for herself and children.
Dorothy is reunited in Heaven with her parents and dear aunts Emma, Ida and Alice, her beloved husband John J. Smith Sr., her brother George W. May, formerly of Uxbridge, her son John J. Smith Jr., son-in-law Albert Lemarier, and her grandson James Lemarier. Her smile and her pleasant voice will forever be missed by her four daughters: Suzzanne Lemarier of Chester, Linda McCorkindale of Westfield, April Kimes of Palm Coast, FL, and Laurel Meyers of Agawam, as well as her thirty-two other grandchildren and great-grandchildren living in the Westfield area and Florida.
The visitation will be Wednesday, January 12, 2022, from 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM at Westfield Funeral Home and Cremation, 4 Princeton St, Westfield, MA 01085, proceeding to 2nd Congregational Church, 487 Western Ave, Westfield, MA for a 12:30 PM funeral service. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Westfield, MA
To express condolences to the family, share photos, or memories please visit Dottie’s memorial page at www.westfieldfuneralhome.com
