Obituary of Norma D. Smith

DELHI — Norma D. Smith, 88, of Delhi, died Sept. 28, 2012, at home. Norma was born Aug. 4, 1924, on the family farm on Holmes Hollow Road, DeLancey town of Delhi, one of five children born to Don B. and Mary (Short) Davidson. Norma attended the one room school on Holmes Hollow before attending and graduating from Delaware Academy and Central School 1942. She then attended and graduated from the then New York State Agricultural and Technical Institute at Delhi in Institutional Management 1944. After graduation Norma relocated to Northville, where she set up and managed the first school cafeteria at Northville Central School. While in Northville, Norma met and married Harold "Shod" Smith, and raised two children. Norma was a member of the United Presbyterian Church of Northville, member of the Church Steadfast Circle, a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, she also catered many weddings and events. Norma enjoyed pottery classes, loved to ski and was a charter member of the famous and beloved Tuccio's Sugar Bowl "Gossip Club." One of her loves was being a waitress at the Adirondack Inn and Summer Theater on the Great Sacandaga Reservoir (Lake), where she waited on Vivian Vance (Ethel on the Lucy Show), Vincent Price and her favorite for many years Groucho Marx. In 1960, Norma and Shod relocated back to Delhi, where she was Dormitory Director at Brookside Dormitory and was known affectionately as "Ma Smith." She enjoyed the "campus life" and took the time to have a genuine interest in the students. She started chaperoning the men's basketball spectator bus and became an avid fan attending games through the 2012, season and attended all but one NJCAA tournament held at Delhi. In the mid 1960s Norma became Foods Manager of the new Delaware County Countryside Care Center in Delhi. She enjoyed her work and took great pride in keeping the residents comfortable, even making special request dishes and theme decorating the dining hall. In the 1970s she returned to Delhi Tech and worked as clerk in the Gerry Hall office, she enjoyed being back with the students until her retirement in the early 1990s. Norma was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church known today as the United Ministry, member of the Church Women's Circle, volunteer at Countryside Care, volunteer at the Delaware County Cooperative Extension, organized Thanksgiving dinners before they became a community project, picked litter along the highway, 45 year member of TOPS, very active in both SUNY Delhi and Delaware Academy Alumni Associations. Norma loved to travel by boat, bus, train or plane, and made many trips to Germany and Colorado to see her children. The trip to Germany in 1985, to meet her grandson for the first time was her favorite. Her "girls" shopping trips, almost daily lunches with someone, she cooked nonstop, loved company and her door was always open. Everyone young or old felt comfortable dropping in for a visit and always received a meal or homemade snack and she also opened her door to house college students who still keep in contact after many years. Norma is survived by her daughter, Roxann Smith, Delhi; son, Mark H. and wife Claudia of Alzenau, Germany; grandson, Alexander M. Smith of Frankfurt, Germany; sister, Blanche (Bob) Fletcher, Delhi, sister, Shirley (Jack) Fisher, Florida; sister in-law, Frances (Gordon) Brown, Northville; and many nieces and nephews. Norma was predeceased by her husband, Harold "Shod" Smith; her parents; brothers, Don B. and George Davidson; nephew, Joel Carson; niece, Donna; mother and father-in-law, Albert and Ruby Smith; sister and brother-in-law, Katherine and Ray Savage; brother-in-law, Hubert Smith; and sister-in-law, Marie Smith. The family invites friends to call at their home, 17 Second St., Delhi, from noon until 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, 2012. A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, in the Northville Cemetery, Northville, with the Rev. Kirianne Riehl of Northville Presbyterian Church, officiating. Following the service a reception in Northville will be announced. Contributions in Norma's memory can be made to Catskill Area Hospice and Palliative Care, 1 Birchwood Drive, Oneonta, NY 13820 or Humane Society of Central Delaware County, State Highway 10, Delhi, NY 13753. Condolences for the family can be left online at www.macarthurfh.com. Arrangements are by the MacArthur Funeral Home of Delhi.