Carmen
T. Smith passed away at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca on Saturday, March 28,
2009.
Carmen
T. Smith passed away at Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca on Saturday, March 28,
2009.
Born in Ithaca, New York on December 19, 1930, Carmen was the daughter of the late Ralph and Rose DeLaurentiis Thomas. A 1948 graduate of Ithaca High School, Carmen then completed her Bachelor’s degree at Nazareth College, and began her graduate work at Cornell University and later transferred to Cortland State, where she received her Master’s Degree. She taught 5th grade and business education at Interlaken Central School, and ultimately retired as a Junior High Math Teacher at South Seneca Central School in Interlaken. Very few students could say that they had escaped her “Gum on the Nose” routine if caught with chewing gum in class, and most certainly there are many students today who can speak of her “perfect aim” with a chalkboard eraser, should you have been foolish enough to get caught talking or fooling around during HER classtime!! Yet, over a career spanning four decades, she was respected as a teacher, a colleague and friend to those fortunate enough to have known her.
Carmen was passionate about St. James Catholic Church where she was a devout communicant, served as the organist for many years, and was a member of the Women’s Guild.
Carmen is survived by her daughter Mimi Duncan; daughter and son-in-law, Rosie and Tom Pudish; son and daughter-in-law, John and Kristen Smith; daughter, Lisa Wolf; five grandchildren, Beth Anne and Bridgette Duncan, Keri Pudish, Hayden Smith and Molly Wolf; one sister, Geraldine (Joseph) Jay; a special cousin Anne Haus; her husband’s family, many nieces and nephews, cousins, and many, many close friends. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 55 years, Jack F. Smith in 2008.
The family will be present to receive friends on Sunday, April 5, 2009 from 1-4pm at the Ness-Sibley Funeral Home, 23 South Street, Trumansburg.
Mass will be celebrated by Fr John Tokaz and Fr. Eugene O’Hara, OFM Caps on Monday, April 6, 2009 at 11:00am at St. James the Apostle Roman Catholic Church, 17 Whig St, Trumansburg.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider a contribution to the Trumansburg Volunteer Fire Co., EMS, PO Box 418, or St. James Catholic Church, PO Box 709, Trumansburg, NY 14886.