Jean Benze Smith

Jean Benze Smith, of Mount Dora, Florida, passed away Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Born in Queens, New York, she moved to Mount Dora in 1982 from Plattsburgh, New York. She was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church and attended services at the Garden of Life Chapel at Waterman Village, Mount Dora. She was a Master Bridge player, a lifetime member of the Plattsburgh Elks Lodge and the Women's Auxiliary at Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh. Jean is survived by her two sons, Richard A. Smith, Mount Dora, FL, Jeffrey B. Smith, Plattsburgh, NY; two daughters, Allison S. Condo, Plattsburgh, NY, Gay S. Schmergel, Sands Point, NY; twelve grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Perry Smith, MD. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Florida 32778.

A few Memories of Our Mother:
Ethel Jean Benze Smith
September 30, 1916 – March 18, 2015

Our beloved Mother and friend slipped quietly, elegantly and peacefully from us in the early morning of March 18,2015. We are quite sure she has been escorted to heaven by a gaggle of elegant angels, all adorned in robes of the most lovely shades of lavender, Jean’s favorite color.

We, Jean’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are bursting with tremendous gratitude for having received the gift and great blessing of sharing our lives with her. She has been a beautiful, thoughtful and strong guiding light for each of us. She has been a loyal and thoughtful friend for so many. The memory of her smile, her laugh, her boundless, unconditional love and generosity of wisdom will be held in our hearts forever.

Jean’s childhood was idyllic. Born to parents of German descent in 1916, in the then prominent borough of Queens, New York. Baby Jean was, by several years, the youngest of four children of Minna and William Benze. She was pampered and loved by her two older sisters and brother. A living doll for her older siblings to love, entertain, tease and nurture. Her winters were spent in Middle Village,New York and her long, languishing summers were spent on The Great South Bay of Long Island in Bayshore, New York.

Jean enjoyed the busy life her surroundings offered. She especially enjoyed swimming, clamming, tennis playing and sailing. She recently told me of a memory she cherished. A memory of the senses; the aura of a moment in time. A memory combining peace, tranquility, beauty and love that filled her heart. It was a memory of sailing with her Father. She said the actual sailing was not her favorite pastime as the frequency of being “becalmed” for hours loomed large – but, the vivid memory of being in the safety of her father’s care on his sailboat, while enjoying the beauty of the sea, sky and shore; the beauty of being in those blissful moments. This incredible memory and feeling were still, after all this time has passed, vividly palpable to her. This revelation was wonderful to hear.

As time passed and childhood turned to adolescence, Jean’s parents changed their lifestyle. They still spent summers and the shoulder seasons in New York. However, as winter approached, Jean, with her parents, and her pet, a long haired white cat named Fluffy, traveled by car, to Hollywood Beach, Florida. Mother often mentioned that she never liked cold weather. Jean’s school days were shared between New York and Florida.

Jean graduated from NYU with interests in Art History and Physical Education. However, her practical nature led her to embrace Dental Hygienistry as a profession. She was hired in the private dental practice of the Dean of Columbia University Dental School. It was during that time as Gilbert P. Smith’s hygienist that Jean was introduced to his tall, handsome brother, Ronald P. Smith. Ron was a Medical Intern. A child from Hibbing, Minnesota, and freshly graduated from The University of Chicago Medical School. We like to think their meeting was one of love a first sight.

Ron and Jean’s courtship flourished in New York through the years of Ron’s medical training. He fell head over heels for Jean, and, also, found his true calling in the field of Opthalmology. Throughout our parent’s life together, the Eye Institute at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital was a magnet for life-long learning, a source of nostalgia and a source for stories often repeated about their young married life. The Eye Institute was also a beacon for many family trips to NYC. As our parents held their New York City area roots dear to them, we children were the beneficiaries of cosmopolitan exposure.

Ron and Jean made the decision to leave the Metropolitan New York area at the time Ron was ready to start his own Opthalmology practice. His first practice was in Watertown, New York followed by their final decision to settle in Plattsburgh, New York. In Plattsburgh, they forged a lovely life together. With Jean as the office manager, Ron developed his beloved medical practice, they were a successful team. Jean ran both our home and her husband’s office with professionalism - always mindful of the “higher road” being the only choice in life for all of us, no matter what the endeavor of the moment might be.

As Jean forged forward with her life as mother of four and devoted wife of a successful small town physician, she guided us all toward the benefits of pursuing active lives. There was always a little something going on. Never was the thought or concept of boredom a part of anyone’s agenda. There were always hobbies, athletic pursuits, scientific projects or art projects galore. Reading hour, garden time -watering and learning, – always something. We had several “summer” projects involving the cutting and pasting of pictures from The National Geographic Magazine.

A long time member of The United Methodist Church in Plattsburgh, NY, Jean was active in the Ladies Circle. She was a member of the Auxillary at Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, and a lifetime member of the Plattsburgh Elks Lodge. Her hobbies and involvement in her children’s development were many. There were the perfectly sewn, perfectly fitted, homemade costumes galore for grade school pageants. Brownie and Scout commitments. Jean’s lifelong love of learning led her to follow many diverse routes. Sharing her excitement over her latest passion would be fuel for us as children to learn by osmosis. We were onboard as she passed through her stock market phase, her furniture refinishing phase, her Trompe l’oeil painting phase, her dried flower arranging phase….etc. At some point, Jean’s passions turned toward antique collecting. She avidly searched histories and studied the factory or artisanal markings on jewelry, china, furniture and artworks. Her searches for that special hidden treasure gave her a lifetime of pleasure.

Our parent’s seemed to have life all sorted out. I cannot remember a harsh word ever coming between them. I remember observing many sweet and simple gestures of romance between them – a slow dance check to check to a new recording on the “stereo”, a quiet end of the day chat with a glass of wine, or the sharing of photographs taken on one of their many weekend get-a-ways to our closest city, Montreal. And, many family days at our Lake Champlain house – with everyone in the family working together to pick up twigs or such, followed by a family picnic. Great love and respect for each other, and a wonderful, gentle, good life together.

Jean’s beloved Ron passed away unexpectedly at much too early an age. They still had a full list of dreams to fulfill. Jean was devastated. Yet, she approached this new challenge in her life with hope, grace and tremendous will - she remained strong and independent. And, with enough healing time behind her, she entered the next phase of her adult life.

Winter in Plattsburgh, New York was something Jean was ready to leave. Through a recommendation from a friend, Jean discovered the secret jewel of Florida: Mount Dora. During the first few years, Jean’s winter escapes were short. As she gradually spent more time in “Dora”, her life here expanded. During her first years, she joined everything – ceramics classes, art classes, tin snipping flower making classes, line dance exercise classes, birding and naturalist outings, golf and lawn bowling, etc. As she found her course of life, Mount Dora became more of a home. Jean enjoyed so many wonderful years in Mount Dora - nurturing many strong and close friendships. I do believe Mount Dora would be the answer to the question of where her heart was most alive.

Jean’s life flourished with activities - most of her time was spent in Mount Dora, with annual summer trips back to Plattsburgh and Lake Champlain. Jean shared many joys in her later life with her children and grandchildren and in more recent years, new joys with great-grandchildren. Jean was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church and attended weekly services at the Garden of Life Chapel at Waterman Village.

And then there was duplicate Bridge. A passion of Jean’s that probably was the most satisfying hobby of her lifetime. Her love of the game exploded when she reached a comfortable balance of time in Mount Dora. She joined as many games as time allowed, and joined “the club” in Eustis, Florida. Her skill and love of the game grew. She earned her Duplicate Bridge Life Master status during several years of wonderful travel experiences while following the tournament circuit. She found each hand of bridge to be stimulating and challenging. She forged and nurtured many dear friendships as a direct result of her passion for the game. Jean played her cards well until just a few weeks ago when fatigue overtook her style.

In closing these words of memory, I must make mention of that special trait our mother possessed, the thing that we all noticed and loved about her, the thing that we all admired, the thing that some of us tried to emulate. This thing is style. Mother had style. We will all miss this.

We thank you all - Jean’s beloved friends - for your love and support during Jean’s recent illness and sad decline. We thank you for the happiness you gave her during her lifetime. Her memory will live strongly in all of our hearts.
Love,
Jean’s family,
Allison Smith Condo and her husband Terry Condo and their children:
Tia Avery deGrandpre and her husband Arthur deGrandpre and their children:
Ellie and Alex
Jason and Amanda Avery and their children:
Ryan,Ian and Jake
Brad and Laurel Avery
Joseph and Michelle Condo and their children:
Carter and Caleb
Michael Condo
Richard Smith and his wife Candy Smith and their children:
Corey and Amy Smith and their children:
Ricky and Megan
Heather Smith
Gay Smith Schmergel and her husband Bill Schmergel and their children:
Perry and Sarah Schmergel
Regan and Shannon Schmergel and their child:
Lillian
Dana Schmergel Carrus and her husband Matthew Carrus
Jeffrey Smith and his children:
Zachary Smith
Skyler Smith

March 2015