Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend
Stella Smith, 102, of Woodbury, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away peacefully Aug. 14, 2014, at Meridian Manor in Waterbury. Stella was born April 4, 1912, in Naugatuck to Alphonse and Louise Baumer Happy.
Stella is survived by a son and two daughters and their families: Richard Smith and his wife, Sheila, of Middlebury; Nancy Titley of Nashua, N.H.; and Lynn Herbin and her husband, Dr. Joseph Herbin, of Fairfield. She also is survived by her 10 cherished grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren: Juddson Smith and his wife, Jodie, of West Hartford and their two children, Lily and Holden; Tyler and Alison Smith of Long Beach, Calif., and their daughter, Stella; Abigail Smith Hanby and her husband, Pete, of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Rebecca Titley Lietz and her husband, Bob Lietz, of Exeter, N.H, and their children, Christopher and Kate; Jeffrey Titley and his wife, Meredith, of Melrose, Mass., and their son Brendan; Christopher Titley and his wife, Cheryl, of Braintree, Mass., and their children, Jack and Molly; Sarah Herbin Demeneses and her husband, Joseph, of Fairfield and their children, Joseph, Catherine and Anna; Rachel Herbin Whitcomb and her husband, Jon, of New Canaan and their children, Victoria, Joseph, Richie, Elizabeth and Emma; Melissa Herbin of Fairfield;, and Catherine Herbin of Mill Valley, Calif.. Stella also is survived by her dear sister and longtime friend, Muriel Longo of Naugatuck, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, George; her son-in-law, Edward Titley; and five of her siblings.
Throughout her long and fruitful life, Stella was a loving and dedicated mother. She found great pleasure in having the family at her beautifully decorated home for tea, her fabulous desserts or gourmet meals. She was an outstanding cook, baker and jam maker, and all the kids loved her gingerbread men cookies. Stella also was an avid gardener, antique collector, reader and seamstress. There was nothing she couldn’t do when she put her mind to it. Stella and her family were very musical. Stella entertained everyone with her melodious voice and piano playing, even in her later years at Meridian Manor.
Stella’s gift to her family will be the extraordinary love that she shared with her husband, George, and the rest of the family, her strong Christian faith and her strong moral code. She will be remembered as a smart lady, one who was never daunted by challenges, and one who was not afraid to take chances.
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the loving and professional staff at Meridian Manor. The compassionate care and joy they added to our Mom’s life will be forever remembered.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Teresa’s Church in Woodbury Friday, Sept. 5, at 10 a.m. Memorial contributions can be made in Stella’s name to Meridian Manor’s Recreation Department, 1132 Meriden Road, Waterbury, CT 06705. The Woodbury Funeral Home of Munson – Lovetere at 2 School St. in Woodbury is in charge of arrangements. For online condolences, visit www.munsonloveterefuneralhome.com
