Verna A. (Martin) Smith, 88

Verna Smith b&w

Verna Smith

HUDSON, N.H. — Verna Annette (Martin) Smith, 88, of Hudson, N.H., died Thursday, March 6, 2014, at home, after a six-month battle with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Verna was born in Harrison on March 30, 1925, one of the 12 children of Jennie (Little) Martin and Carroll A. Martin. After graduating from Bridgton High School in 1944, Verna worked for the local ration board during WWII, and for Central Maine Power in Bridgton. She moved to Portland, where she worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield before marrying her high school sweetheart, Wyvern A. Smith, also of Bridgton, on June 19, 1949 in North Bridgton. They lived for a short time in Waterville, and then moved to Stoneham, Mass., where they lived for 55 years, and where their four children were born and raised. They were married for nearly 65 years.

Her family included children, Dr. Nola Della-Monica and her husband Glenn of Hudson, N.H., Jeffrey Smith of Valley Center, Calif., Nona Smith of Brooklyn, N.Y., Cathleen Ristaino and her husband Mark of Londonderry, N.H.; three grandchildren, Mark, Natasha and Ashley; and many nieces and nephews.

She was very active until her illness. She enjoyed walking, working in her flower beds, feeding the birds, picking blueberries, and all the simple things in life. She was a loving, kind, gentle person who loved and cherished all of her family.

She was predeceased by all of her siblings: Stanley Martin of Apache Junction, Ariz., Alice Ashby of Mechanic Falls, Helen Trumble of Springvale, Edward Martin of Harrison, Robert Martin of Harrison, Harriet Martin of Harrison, Percy Martin of Baltimore, Md., Jeanette Perkins of Port Orchard, Wash., Richard Martin of Southwick, Mass., Carroll Martin Jr. of Harrison, and a baby girl who died at birth.

She is survived by her husband, Wyvern A. Smith, their four children, and three grandchildren.

A service will be held at Chandler's Funeral Home on Elm St. in Bridgton on Sat., March 15, 2014, at 11 a.m. A private burial will occur in the spring at Maple Ridge Cemetery in Harrison. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to: Ronald G. St. John VFW Post 9328, PO Box 698, Harrison, ME 04040, or to: NEALS (Northeast Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Consortium), Tara Lincoln, NEALS Program Manager, Neurological Clinical Research Institute, 50 Staniford St., 4th Floor, Rm. 401-I,
Boston, MA 02114.