Obituary of ELEANOR SMITH

SMITH, Eleanor Gertrude (nee Cruise) With deep sadness we announce the passing of our mother Eleanor Gertrude Smith on Sunday December 14, 2014 at Dover Cliffs LTC in her 95th year. She is survived by a son Monte (Rose Marie) and daughters Joan Smith of Port Dover and Nancy Smith Merritt (Richard) of Niagara-on-the-Lake, grandchildren Brian Smith, Tiffany Merritt and Susannah Link Merritt, and great-grandchildren Chelsey Smith, Justine Smith and Althea Link Merritt, Oscar Link, a nephew and several nieces, and her brother James Cruise and sister Isabel Powell, both of Townsend. Eleanor was predeceased by her husband Allan Wilbur Smith (1976), her parents William Edward and Annie Gertrude (Walker) Cruise of Marburg, and her brother George Cruise (1991).Eleanor was born on December 23, 1919, and grew up in Marburg, attended Marburg School (SS # 8, Woodhouse), the Port Dover Continuation School and graduated from Simcoe High School. She earned her teacher's certificate in 1939 from the Normal School in Hamilton and taught the following year at Lakeshore School, (SS # 7 Woodhouse) and recalled that she received an extra $100 for assuming the responsibility for the school's wood furnace for that year. She married in March of 1940 and her teaching career was put on hold as at that time it was assumed that a married woman would not teach. During the next 15 years, she was busy as a farmer's wife and raising three children. In 1955, teachers were in short supply and she was encouraged by Mr. Douglas Lawless, the Inspector for Public Schools in Norfolk County, to return to teaching. She spent two years at the Broadway/Mud Street School (SS # 9, Woodhouse), another of the one room country schools. She then taught Grades 5 and 7 for ten years from 1957 until 1967 at Port Dover Public School. Always one to challenge herself, she spent most of the early summers and winter evenings taking courses to upgrade her teaching skills and certifications. She completed Specialist certificates in Special Education and in Library Science, and held positions in both in her later Haldimand teaching positions. Between 1964 and 1970, while continuing to teach full time, she took the rare step of completing, through the extension program, an Honours B.A. degree at McMaster University, and we were all very proud to be there for her graduation in June, 1971. It culminated a dedicated, sustained and diligent effort. In 1967, she transferred to the Haldimand Board where she taught at the Walpole South and North Schools for the next 15 years until retiring in 1982. On many occasions, she recalled the terrific Friday snowstorm in January 1977 that was so severe that she and most of the staff were unable to leave and had to spend the weekend at the Walpole North School until the roads were opened on the following Monday. During this time, the farm was sold in 1969 and Allan and she built a home on Sunninghill Drive in Port Dover. Following Allan's sudden death in 1976, she moved to Morgan Avenue where she lived for about 25 years. In recent years she has been a resident at Norview and more recently at Dover Cliffs in Port Dover. Eleanor was always an avid reader and until arthritis interceded about two years ago was never without a book. She also enjoyed travelling, and with a variety of companions saw most of Canada including the far north, and had several trips to each of England, Ireland, and Scotland. She was also a generous supporter of many community organizations, including child sponsorships through the Foster Parent's Plan, the Horticultural Society, The Order of The Eastern Star, was a volunteer for many years at Norview Lodge and delivered Meals On Wheels. She was a life-long member of Grace United Church and its U.C.W. and the Lakeshore Women's Institute, holding offices in both on several occasions. Friends are invited to meet with family to share their memories of Eleanor on Wednesday December 17, 2014 from 2pm - 4pm and from 7pm - 9pm at THOMPSON WATERS FUNERAL HOME 102 First Ave. Port Dover. A service to Celebrate Eleanor's Life will be held at Grace United Church corners of Chapman and St.George Sts. on Thursday December 18, 2014 at 11am Rev. Jeffrey Smith officiant followed by interment at Port Dover Cemetery. For those wishing, donations to Grace United Church or the Port Dover Lifeline Food Bank would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences and or donations can be made at www.thompsonwatersfuneralhome .ca