Obituary of Margorie Smith

Schenectady - Marjorie (Mimi) Smith, 91, of Schenectady, passed away peacefully January 24, 2013 of natural causes and surrounded by her family. She was born April 6, 1921, the daughter of the late Margaret and Roscoe Tryon. Marjorie was known amongst her family and friends for many things; her strong handshake that never wavered (Give me the Grip, Mimi!), her physical and spiritual resiliency, the fact that she never drank or swore; but above all else, she was known for being truly selfless. No matter what obstacles life would throw at her, whether she was feeling ill or well, she always found the strength to smile, and those smiles were contagious. Happiness was her hallmark, whether she was taking yearly vacations to Sacandaga Lake with her family, day trips to the county fairs, boating (and always catching the biggest fish), opening up her home for the holidays, playing (and winning) at cards and board games, talking about everything from her experiences during the Great Depression to the current political hot topic or just being there for every family occasion and milestone. Marjorie was one of those rare people who were always a joy to be around. She consistently saw the brightest side of everything, and even if you didn't at first, after a few minutes of time with her, you couldn't help but see the bright side too. That selfless love was Marjorie's greatest gift to her family, her friends and to all of those who were lucky to have known her. Marjorie was the closest thing to an angel here on earth that any of us are likely to come across, and we are all richer for the experience. The legacy that Marjorie leaves behind is one of happiness, of goodness, and of strength, and we know that she is smiling now as her spirit continues to enrich the lives of her daughter, Peggy Conti; along with her children, Philip Jr. (Lynn), along with their children, Anais, Philip III and Emily; Bob (Barb) and their son, Calvin; Chad (Jen) and their children, Alex and Lydia; and Brenda Ross (Mike) and her son, John Smith of Pittsburgh, PA, with his wife, Becky and son, Ben. She is also survived by her sister, Elinor Beverage and her sister-in-law, Margaret (Molly) Van Patten. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; her sisters, Francis Fancher, Mary Schultz and Ann Paratory; her brothers, Roscoe, Clifford, William, Bernie, John, Paul and George Tryon; and son-in-law, Phil Conti Sr. The Family would like to thank the administration and staff at Baptist Health in Scotia for their years of dedicated service to Marjorie. They would also like to thank her roommate, Margaret, for being a true friend and for transcending the boundaries of friendship and becoming one of the family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at 11 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church with burial following at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Schenectady. Memorial contributions may be made, in lieu of flowers, to St. Paul the Apostle Church, 2777 Albany Street, Schenectady, New York 12304. Arrangements by the Daly Funeral Home, 242 McClellan St.