Peacefully on Friday, December 29, 2023, the passing of Carol Marie Smith, 84, most recently of Belfast, PE, occurred at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, PE. Born in Lyndale, PE on November 13, 1939, Carol was one of five children born to the late Hersey and Esther (Campbell) Carver. The loving and devoted wife of the late Clair Roy Smith, originally of Bloomfield, PE, Carol is survived by daughter Jennifer (Smith) Martell (Tim) of Princeton, NJ and cherished grandson Keegan Martell of Victoria, BC. She is also survived by brothers-in-law, Vance Smith (Teresa) and Barry Smith (Judy) and sisters-in-law, Glenn Arbing, Sandra Adams and Margie Carver. Carol also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and their families. Carol is predeceased by infant daughter Tracey Leigh Smith; sisters Jean Smith, Shirley MacLeod and Frances Buchanan; brother Preston Carver; brothers-in-law Eric Adams, Jack Arbing, Jim Smith, Gerald MacLeod and Victor Buchanan; and sisters-in-law Inez Jelley (Ray), Betty MacDougall (Lloyd), and Kay Johnson.
Carol left the family farm as a young woman to live and work in Toronto, ON. There she met Clair, at a dance for Maritimers, and they were wed on December 21, 1963. After the birth of Jennifer in 1968, Carol and Clair returned to the Maritimes, settling in Fredericton, NB. Carol was a working mom and held a number of positions before being employed at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Hospital starting in 1984, where she worked until retiring as a Communications Clerk in 2001.
During her time in Fredericton, Carol was an active member of United Church Women and she and Clair were founding members of the Forest Hill United Church. Carol was a member of her church choir and was active in her neighbourhood association. Carol and Clair had the good fortune of living in a community where Charing Crescent neighbours were considered family and became lifelong friends. Carol’s family was always her priority, and this was especially true during the years she was a caregiver to Clair as he dealt with illnesses.
After retiring, Carol returned to her Island roots, building a home in Stratford, PE where she enjoyed reconnecting with Island family and friends as well as hosting those visiting from away. Because of her love of music, Carol – an avid accordion player herself – always looked forward to attending a good ceilidh. Carol continued to involve herself in community projects and in 2020 worked to gain recognition under the Heritage Places Protection Act for the Grandview Methodist Cemetery.
Carol enjoyed travel, particularly to Toronto and Boston to visit with family and friends. In later years, she frequented St. Pete Beach, FL where she preferred to spend a few weeks each year to break up the long winter. During her visits with Jennifer, Tim and Keegan, she made no secret of her preference for sightseeing in rural Pennsylvania over the hustle and bustle of New York City. She enjoyed the small town feeling of Princeton, NJ and even had a chance to visit the Jersey Shore.
The family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of the QEH, particularly the nurses of the Provincial Acute Stroke Unit and the nurses of Surgical Unit 2, for their wonderful care of Carol during her time in hospital. The family would also like to recognize Drs. McGinn, O’Neill, Neily and Scales for their time and attention to Carol. Jennifer and Tim would like to express their gratitude to Carol’s niece Bonnie MacLeod of Oakville, ON for spending time with, and providing support to Carol during the first two weeks of her hospitalization. Heartfelt thanks to family and friends for your kindness, support, words of comfort and generous expressions of sympathy during this difficult time. It will always be remembered.
Visitation will take place at Ferguson Logan Montague Funeral Home of Montague, PE (www.fergusonlogan.com) on Friday, May 10, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be Saturday, May 11, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. in the Funeral Home chapel. Burial service will follow at Bloomfield United Cemetery in O’Leary, PE.
In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to consider a donation to the Alzheimer Society of Prince Edward Island, the Bloomfield United Cemetery or the Heart and Stroke Foundation of PEI.