Jean Ertl passes away on Oct 8, 2020

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Jean Smith Ertl passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, October 8, 2020. Jean was born in Adams Center, N.Y. on Nov. 3, 1927 to Stanley W. and Vida (Colman) Smith. She attended Adams Center High School where she graduated valedictorian of her class.

She attended Syracuse University and graduated from Keuka College (cum laude).During her college years she participated in mission projects in Appalachia and Washington, D.C .. Following gradation she worked for four years as Director of Christian Education for the Tioga County Council of Churches. She did graduate work at Hartford Seminary Foundation where she met her husband, Robert. They were married the following September 1954 and settled in Meriden Connecticut where she was employed at the Meriden Community Fund and Robert was employed at the Meriden Family Service Assoc.

During Bob’s career in the CT. Judicial Department they lived in various locations and she had several employments including the Juvenile Court. She later became Director of Christian Education for the Second Baptist Church in Suffield, Ct., working with children and youth programs.

Upon retirement they moved to Redwood, N.Y. and then to Fairfax, VT. In 1992, their current home.
Jean was a former member of the Friendship Force, the Northern Choral Society and the Evergreen Club. She was a member of the Senior Citizens of Fairfax, the Fairfax Garden Group, the United Church of Fairfax and the Ladies of the United Church.

Her interests included gardening, especially roses and delphiniums, rug hooking, and her special passion, retired greyhounds and a whippet.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Robert, two sons and their wives, Barry and Jane Ertel of Bethel, Vt. and David and Angela Ertl of Waukee, IA, four grandchildren, Daniel Ertel, Mariah Ertel, Alex and Christian Ertl of Waukee IA., one sister Joan Loomis of Waddington, N.Y. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her brother, Lawrence Smith, his wife, Virginia McIntosh Smith, brother-in-law William Ertl Jr. and his wife, Charlotte, and brother-in-law Robert Loomis.

Services will be held at the convenience of the family at a later date. Memorial Contributions in Jean's memory may be made to United Church of Fairfax, c/o Sally Sweet Treas., 44 Sweet-Slattery Road, East Fairfield, VT 05448. We invite you to share your memoires and condolences by visiting awrfh.com.