Elaine N. Smith

She was born Jennie Elaine Nissen on January 19, 1930, in Canandaigua, New York, to Edward Nissen and Marjorie Horton Nissen. The family moved to Syracuse, New York, where Elaine spent her formative years and eventually met her future husband and life partner, Robert Smith. She and Bob were joined in marriage on August 19, 1950 in Syracuse, a union that lasted 65 years.

Although Elaine was employed in a bank during Bob’s years in divinity school, her life’s work was supporting their ministries in the churches in which they served in upstate New York, Grosse Pointe (MI) and Wilmington (DE). As a pastor’s wife, she was a skilled and gracious hostess, contributed her beautiful voice as a soloist and choir member, and performed numerous behind-the-scenes tasks that contributed to the success of their ministries.

Family was at the center of Elaine’s life. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend whose heart of gold touched everyone fortunate enough to know her. She cherished being with those closest to her. She enjoyed time around the dinner table sharing her home-cooked meals with family and friends. Her quick wit and ability to find humor in everyday moments brought laughter to those around her. Elaine also loved flowers, beauty, and art, and her eye for color and detail was evident in her table settings, household décor, attire, and gifts.

Some of Elaine’s most treasured memories were of the 30 years she and her family summered in their Lake Champlain cottage, Quiet Cedars. It was a diamond in the rough when acquired, but annual work projects and improvements created a haven where waterfront activities and cherished friendships gave her family a home base and sense of belonging during their years of parsonage living.

After Bob passed, she enjoyed the company of her close friends at Stone Oak and Traditions in Hilliard, OH. Her family is grateful for the compassionate care from the staff of Ohio Health Homereach Hospice and The Grand of Dublin in her final days.

Elaine is survived by her sons, Eric (Susan) of Marquette (MI) and Kurt (LaDonna) of Dublin (OH). Additional survivors include her grandchildren, Scott, Andrew, Jordan (Katie Berger) and Adam (Hanna), and great-grandchildren Landon, Liam, Leo, Noah, and Riley, as well as many nephews, nieces, and friends.

Elaine was predeceased by her parents, husband, siblings Edward Nissen and Martha Sparkes, and infant granddaughters Meryl and Gina.

At Elaine’s request, there will be no service of memory. Instead, she requested that we all stop for a moment and think of a memory of her that makes us feel happy.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to support hospice care at: https://giving.ohiohealth.com/site/Donation2?df_id=3262&mfc_pref=T&3262.donation=form1