Winifred "Winnie" Smernoff (Nee Walz)

Winifred "Winnie" Smernoff (nee Walz), 86, passed away from an ongoing respiratory condition Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center in Fayetteville, NC. Winnie was born in Brooklyn, NY on October 13, 1932 and was the second daughter of parents born of German immigrants, Arthur and Louise Walz (nee Pilz). She was raised in a seaside community by her NYPD father and homemaker mother on the island of Broad Channel in Jamaica Bay Queens, NY, where she attended St. Virgilius School. Winnie later graduated from John Adams High School in Ozone Park. Prior to performing stenography services at St. Paul Insurance in lower Manhattan, Winnie briefly substitute taught at St. Virgilius. Winnie married John Smernoff and lived a happy thirty-eight years together until his passing in 1995. Starting a family, the two spent the first twenty-three years in East Meadow Long Island until moving to Bennington, VT in 1980, having first given extreme rural living a try just southwest of White Mountain National Forest in Groton, NH. While in Long Island, she and her husband actively volunteered with American Legion charities, as well as being an active part of Calvary Lutheran Church. After her husband's retirement as a Steamfitter, Winnie proudly co-owned and supported the operation of their iconic NY style stainless steel hot dog cart, Winnie's Weenies, operated by her husband for over a decade on Main Street in Bennington, VT. When not busy with the family business and caring for their home, she and her husband nurtured and raised their four children. Winnie enjoyed crocheting, sewing, cooking, and occasionally baking. She and her husband also appreciated and worked hard at decorating and improving their home. Along with her husband, Winnie was known by her family for impressively tackling physically demanding projects around the home. She and her family looked forward to summers at their cabin in Woodford Lake, but Winnie oft-reminisced of seaside living. Her home was rarely without the accompaniment of a cared for family dog, schnauzers more recently. Fond of nature, she made a point of appreciating the variety of birds and woodland creatures in her backyard. Growing house plants, outdoor flower beds, and vegetable gardening were a favorite past time, with an eye and passion for growing evergreens and spruces. One such tree grew so large she had visions of it being destined for a Capital city or Rockefeller Plaza. After raising their own children, she and her husband played an active role in providing daycare for two of their grandchildren. At the time of her passing, Winnie was the second longest existing member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Shaftsbury. Strong in faith, she enjoyed service and volunteering at the annual public German dinners, where she was known for proudly serving up her Spatzle and potato pancakes. Winnie routinely served on the Redeemer board, as well as playing an active role in AAL (later Thrivent) fundraising charity events. Quick with observational wit and a smile, Winnie enjoyed socializing, her friendship with close neighbors, members of the community she met through the business, and members of the Red Hat (Ladies) Society (later Mad Hatters) to which she was a member. Winnie was predeceased by her husband John and their eldest son, John. She is survived by her sister Marilyn Tillotson of Long Island, NY, children Susan Smernoff of Fayetteville, NC, Donna Smernoff Burgess and her husband Douglas T. Burgess of Bennington, Paul Smernoff of Williamstown, MA, three grandchildren Natasha L. Galusha (Burgess) and husband Richmond Galusha, Mariah L. Tremblay (Burgess) and husband Bradley Tremblay, and Erika Lynn Burgess, one great grandchild Nova Lynn Tremblay, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Route 67 in Shaftsbury on Saturday, November 10 at 2 pm. In lieu of flowers; donations may be made to the Bennington Rescue Squad through the office of Hanson-Walbridge & Shea Funeral Home, P.O. Box 957, Bennington, VT 05201. A memorial service will be held at Redeemer Lutheran Church on Route 67 in Shaftsbury on Saturday, November 10 at 2 pm.