Eleanor Smith

Eleanor B. Smith, 98 a longtime resident of Shaftsbury passed away peacefully on Saturday December 15,2018 at Bennington Health & Rehabilitation Center. The daughter of Evert and Ethel (Algra) Smith, she was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on December 9, 1920. Eleanor attended Oakdale Christian School, Mus Keegan High School and was a 1939 graduate of Christian High School. She continued her education at Western Michigan College of Education and received her graduate degree from Ohio State. Eleanor enjoyed a lifelong career as a Real Estate Broker at Smith Realty in Shaftsbury. She loved to travel and had traveled throughout Europe, writing "Search for Summer" about her travels through Europe in her 20's. She also wrote "Life I Cherish" volumes 1-4, about the family & friends in her life through the 70's, hand typing all of her books. An avid hiker, she hiked just about every day until the age of 89. One of her favorite hikes was Mt. Washington. She was a member of the Adirondack Hiking Club and the International Club where she met people and became lifelong friends with many throughout the world. She chose organic foods and made healthy choices for many years before it became popular. For many years Eleanor started the Town of Shaftsbury Annual Town Meeting with a speech. She leaves her nephew James Evert Boersma of Michigan and her longtime friend and caregiver Marie Watson of Shaftsbury. She was predeceased by her sister Dorothy Louise Boersma. Funeral services will be held at the North Bennington Baptist Church on Thursday December 20 at 11am, a reception will follow in the church hall, followed by burial in the Maple Hill Cemetery at 2pm. Friends may call at the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5-7pm. Memorial gifts may be made to the North Bennington Baptist Church or the Bennington Area Trail Systems in care of the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, 213 West Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201. Funeral services will be held at the North Bennington Baptist Church on Thursday December 20 at 11am, a reception will follow in the church hall, followed by burial in the Maple Hill Cemetery at 2pm. Friends may call at the Hanson Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home on Wednesday from 5-7pm.