Helen Page Smith

Helen Page Smith, “Nana” to many, was a treasured daughter, sister, friend, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother during her incredible 102 and a half years of life. She passed away peacefully on the morning of March 15, 2024 in Arlington, Virginia surrounded by family.

The daughter of British-Canadian scholars and educators, some of Nana’s hallmark traits were her impeccable manners and devotion to proper grammar. Her warmth and contagious belly laughs, however, would light up a room.

Helen was born on September 15, 1921 to Ruth and John Page in Fredericton, New Brunswick—one of Canada’s beautiful Maritime provinces. Growing up, she enjoyed speed skating, basketball, both cross-country and downhill skiing, and even ice hockey. She was the starting forward for the City of Fredericton 1936/37 women’s championship basketball team. She would casually mention that as a young girl, she frequently played hockey with neighborhood boys who went on to become NHL players. She also loved music. She studied voice, played the piano, sang with a radio show trio in the late 1930s, sang at The Washington National Cathedral and The White House, and was a member of her church choir for many years.

After attending The University of New Brunswick, Helen moved to Washington, D.C. to work for the British Admiralty during World War II. It was there that “Pagie,” as her friends called her, met her future husband, Capt. Charles William “Bill” Smith. Some of the best stories of their courtship included a horseback ride in Rock Creek Park during which Bill, a self-professed, very competent equestrian, slid completely down the neck of a horse and into the creek after the horse stopped for a drink. There was also the time they came back to an elegant apartment building on Connecticut Avenue after a day of fishing on the Chesapeake Bay with a Styrofoam cooler full of freshly caught fish, only to have the bottom of the cooler burst, sending fish sliding every which way over the pristine marble floor of the lobby. Helen and Bill were married in June 1948 and settled first in Arlington, and then in Alexandria, Virginia.

Helen worked in Washington, D.C. as a secretary at the Embassy of India and then an executive secretary at the World Bank for several years before taking a hiatus to raise five children. She returned to The World Bank in 1973 before retiring in 1984.

She was happiest playing bridge, golfing, or gardening. She loved listening to 1940s-50s crooners, especially Frank Sinatra (Fly Me to the Moon was her favorite). She took Scrabble games to new heights—typically crushing unwitting opponents. Her gardens included everything from tulips to cucumbers and tomatoes. But the most prized was her rose garden.

Observing antics of her grandchildren, Nana consoled their exasperated parents by noting their naughtiness meant they were smart—that mischievousness is a sign of intellectual curiosity. When asked how she made it to 100, she quipped, “I take it day by day and drink Chardonnay.”

In her later years, Helen enjoyed living in both the Greenspring community in Springfield, Virginia, and at The Landing in Alexandria, Virginia.

Helen was predeceased by her husband, Bill, her brother Douglas Page and her sister Betty Plummer. She is survived by her five children: Brad Smith and his wife, Jann of Port St. Lucie, Florida; Sandra Race and her husband, John of Winter Park, Florida; Russell Smith and his wife LouAnn of Cromwell, Connecticut; Sharon Galdos and her husband, José of Alexandria, Virginia; and Jeanne Brown and her husband, Dan of Alexandria, Virginia. She is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Nicole Turman (Joe); John Race, Jr. (Tanya); Travis Smith (Stacey); Amanda Miller (Pete); Sarah Smith; Alicia Drummond; Natalie Smith; Alexandra Galdos; Jacqueline Galdos; Daniel Smith; Nicholas Galdos; Louis Galdos; and Carter Brown; and ten great-grandchildren: Dudley, Jay, Piper, Vivienne, Rees, Lee, Lincoln, Layla, Teddy, and Colgin. She also leaves behind many other family members, and countless dear friends and admirers.

To know Nana was to love Nana. May we all carry her unique combination of elegance and grace—with a splash of spirit and spunk—with us every day.

She will be laid to rest with her husband Bill at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Disabled American Veterans (cst.dav.org).