Jacquelin Smith

CORNISH — Jacquelin S. Smith, 91, passed away Monday, March 21, 2016, at her daughter’s home in Parsonsfield with family by her side.

Jackie was born in Cornish, a daughter of Philip R. and Lou Waterman Swasey. Mrs. Smith graduated from Cornish High School as valedictorian of her class in 1942. She attended the University of Vermont and graduated in 1946 with a B.A. in Language Arts. She was a member of the Alpha Chi Omega Sorority. During her summers in college, she worked at the Cornish Telephone Office and was engaged to Charles Whitney in that office. She married Charles on July 3, 1948.

After graduating from U.V.M., she became a member of the faculty at Thornton Academy in Saco teaching French. She taught Math, English and French at Cornish High School from 1950 to 1952 and then took time off to raise their family of five children. She went back to work part-time in 1970 teaching Latin and English at Sacopee Valley High School and retired in June of 1988.

Jackie remarried in June of 1988 to Frank Smith. She then became very active in the Rockland Lobster Festival of which he was president and they were Grand Marshals of the parade in 1996. She was a longtime member of the Cornish Congregational Church, which is now the United Church of Christ, where she was the organist for many years. She was a member of the 99 Club, the Meetinghouse Singers for 18 years, and was chosen the Honorary Citizen of Cornish in 1994 by Channel 8 news. She enjoyed summering at Pequawket Lake in Limington at the family cottage for many years and also cherished time spent at the ocean, especially at Wells Beach.

She loved hosting parties at her house. She hosted the Swasey reunions, the Cornish High School reunions, church picnics, and was always having our large family Christmases with 35 to 40 family members.

Jackie always enjoyed chaperoning the Special Olympics, volunteering at the local food pantry and at the bargain shop. She also helped many in need over the years in her quiet, modest way simply because she wanted to. Her biggest joy was her family. She had a large blended family and she loved all of them. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother and will be missed dearly by all who loved her.

She is survived by her husband Frank Smith; daughters, Julianne Warren of Baldwin and Dianne Bridges of Hiram; son, David Whitney of Cornish; daughters, Marylou Stacey and Wendy McGary, both of Parsonsfield; 19 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren and one on the way; a brother, William Swasey of Bow, N.H., a sister, Mary Nutter of Farmington; a brother, James Swasey of Kennet Square, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.

An hour of visitation will be on Saturday, April 2, from 1 to 2 p.m. immediately followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. all at the Hillside Church of the Cornish U.C.C., 43 High Road, Cornish. Online condolences may be expressed at: www.wnyfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Cornish U.C.C. Church, PO Box 235, Cornish, ME. 04020 or R.U.M.C. Food Cabinet, PO Box 433, Cornish, ME 04020.