Deborah W (Wells) Smith

Deborah W. Smith, 78, of Manchester, beloved wife to William B. Smith for 55 years, passed away peacefully at Buckingham Heights, Glastonbury, CT on February 23, 2024.

In addition to her husband, Bill, Deb is survived by her three children, Michael A. Smith, Wendy S. Henry and Daniel W. Smith; and six grandchildren, Sarah Henry, Hannah Henry, Nathaniel Henry, Ella Smith, Grady Smith and Jack Smith.

Deb was born in Chicago, Illinois, October 13, 1945, and lived with her family in Fulton, NY and Manchester, CT.  Her late parents were Donald D. Wells and Dorothy S. Wells. She had eight brothers and sisters. Deb graduated from Manchester High School and Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. She worked as a programmer and data base administrator for Pratt & Whitney Aircraft until she retired in 2005 to help care for her father.

Deborah was an avid reader, enjoyed crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, needlework and was an active member of the Community Baptist Church (Manchester, CT) for over 40 years. She was the organizer and main go-to person for church rummage sales as well as singing in the choir and being the church clerk for many years.

She loved Christmas-time, decorating the home and entertaining friends and family with her annual Saturday-before-Christmas party. She enjoyed times at the Staffordville Reservoir family cottage, and traveled often with family, including cruises with Bill to Bermuda, Europe, Alaska, Hawaii, Nova Scotia, Australia and the Caribbean, on which they were often joined either by friends, or her sister and husband.

She bravely faced her last ten years with faith and hope. For the better part of five years she made numerous trips to Yale New Haven’s Alzheimer’s Disease Research Unit to help their research into drugs which arrest or hopefully eliminate the disease. The last five years she has mostly been cared for by the excellent staff at Buckingham Heights (formerly Brookdale Buckingham). But the disease finally reached the point where she could no longer fight it … much credit to her for persevering until the end.

A memorial service will be held at the Church of Pentecost (formerly Community Baptist Church), 585 East Center St., Manchester, CT on Saturday March 16, 2024, 1:00 PM. Gifts in her memory can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or the Community Baptist Church, 585 East Center Street, Manchester, CT.  A private burial will be at the family’s convenience.
 

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