Obituary of Helen Smith

Helen C Smith, 91, of Cazenovia died Thursday at Crouse Community Center in Morrisville. Born in Utica, she graduated from Utica Free Academy, where she played on the tennis team and in the Powder Puff football league. She worked for the US War Department until her marriage. She lived briefly in Ithaca NY and attended Ithaca College. She resided in several communities during her life: Potsdam NY, Cazenovia, NY, and Southern Pines, NC. In addition to a focus on her family and church, Helen was active in the real estate business in both Cazenovia and Southern Pines for many years; she was Realtor of the Year in 1979. While a resident of Potsdam, she wrote a weekly column in the Potsdam Courier & Freeman called "What's Doing" and worked at the Language Department of SUNY Potsdam. In Southern Pines, she was a member of the Moore County Choral Society. She was a member of the Cazenovia Red Hat Society and a communicant of St James in Cazenovia. She was predeceased by her husband James, her son Patrick, and her parents Albert and Mary Mangan Macale. She is survived by her sons Michael (Phoebe) of Weston CT and West Tisbury MA, Matthew (Patricia) of Cazenovia NY, and Stephen of Tampa FL; daughters Kathleen of Wayland MA and Mary Ellen Smith (Marc Schiller) of Atlanta GA; daughter-in-law Lisa Smith of Dewitt NY; grandchildren Jamie Smith Miller (David), Catherine Smith Santiago (Alex), Bridget, Peter and Hannah Schiller, Macale and Conner Smith; step-grandchildren Morley Zachman Miller (Michael), Jason Roberge, Sophie and Walker Cole; great-grandson James Patrick Santiago; step-great grandson Journey Roberge; many nieces and nephews; and many cousins in NY state and the Carolinas. Helen's family is deeply grateful for the loving care provided by the staff of Crouse Community Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 am on Monday at St. James Church, 6 Green Street, Cazenovia. The Rite of Committal will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Calling hours will be held from 4-7pm on Sunday at Tait Funeral Home, Inc., 2333 Fenner Road, Cazenovia. To send the family an online condolence, please visit taitfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the James M and Helen C Smith Scholarship Fund, Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Road, Pinehurst, NC, 28374 or the Carl Mangan Memorial Scholarship, Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School, 2 Notre Dame Way, Utica, NY 13502.