Sharon Ruth Smarc

Sharon Ruth Smarc (née Austin), 80, of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, and a winter resident of Port Charlotte, Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 26, 2025, at Seaside Rehabilitation, following a long and courageous battle with rheumatoid arthritis.

Sharon was born on January 22, 1945, in Portland, Maine, to Russell and Ruth Austin (née Thompson). She was raised and educated in Cape Elizabeth, a community she cherished deeply and remained devoted to throughout her life.

She graduated from Cape Elizabeth High School and later from the University of Maine at Presque Isle. While attending college, Sharon met her future husband, Joseph W. Smarc, Jr. After graduation, the couple moved to Staten Island, New York, where Sharon began her teaching career. They later returned to Cape Elizabeth, where they married, raised their family, and built a home rooted in love and community.

Sharon dedicated her professional life to education, retiring after many years as a teacher at Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach. Beyond the classroom, she served for many years as a trustee of Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth, a role she carried out with thoughtfulness, integrity, and a deep respect for the town’s history and families.

A lifelong reader and natural storyteller, Sharon had a particular love for British literature, novels, and television series, as well as local folklore. She was known for her warmth, gentle wit, and her gift for sharing stories that connected people and brought moments to life.

Sharon was predeceased by her beloved husband, Joseph W. Smarc, Jr., who passed away on December 10, 2022, and by her brother, Michael Austin, who passed away in 2016.

She is survived by her sons, Michael A. Smarc of Cape Elizabeth, and Thomas J. Smarc; Thomas’s wife, Caroline Smarc (née Wormell); and her cherished granddaughters, Carolee Smarc and Caitlyn Smarc, all of Westbrook. She is also survived by her brother, Mark Austin, and his wife, Cinthia, of Lisbon.

A Celebration of Life will be held in late February 2026, with details to be announced. A graveside service will take place in the spring at Riverside Cemetery in Cape Elizabeth.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to Sharon’s family, friends, and neighbors for their unwavering love and support, including Jubal Zimmermann, Jason Carreiro, Tori Dyke, Cindy Austin, and dear family friends Mary Otulakowski, Stephen Colucci, and Sherie Wolfe.

Sharon’s kindness, dedication to education, love of stories, and quiet strength will be deeply missed by all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages donations in her memory to local libraries and schools.

Please visit www.jonesrichandbarnes.com to view Sharon’s tribute page and to sign her online guestbook.