SYBIL WATTS SMITHSybil Watts Smith died peacefully, surrounded by family on Thursday, January 21, at her residence in Shelburne Bay Senior Living Community. Sybil was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on December 27, 1923, the third child and only daughter of Albert William and Barbara Henden Watts. Sybil was a former member of the Canadian Women’s Press Club and the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire. On June 23, 1951, after seven years as a reporter, feature writer and book reviewer for The Windsor Daily Star she married U.S. Vice-Consul Levi P. Smith, Jr., and became a U.S. citizen. They moved to his home in Burlington, Vermont, in 1953.
Sybil’s social acumen, her considerable organizational talents, and her profound commitment to volunteerism (shared with her husband) found multiple outlets. She was a member of the Burlington Garden club and Friends in Council. She ran Brownies and Cub Scouts at E.B. Taft School during the 1960s. For many years she was a library volunteer at the Fletcher Free Library. From 1972 through 1979 she served as Executive Director of the Vermont Council on World Affairs. In 1985 she received the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership from the American Red Cross for her work in International Services, establishing and promoting the International Language Bank. A Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, Sybil was commended for her support of the Worldwide Polio Eradication Program. She was the long-time President of the Burlington Cancer Relief Association. As a member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral since 1954, she established the cathedral archives and served as volunteer archivist for 20 years. During the 1950’s she ran the Church School By Mail program for the diocese of Vermont. From 1977 to the present, Sybil was a devoted member of the St. Paul’s Cathedral Cycle of Prayer. She served as Vermont Chair of the National Cathedral Association.
She is survived by her four children: Levi P. Smith, III and his wife Paola of Chicago, John H. Smith of Shelburne, Vt., Victoria B. Powers and her husband Mark of Charlotte, Vt., and Barbara S. Murphy of Fairfax, Vt., and six grandchildren: Christopher and his wife Susan Murphy, Kathryn Murphy, Spencer Powers, Simeon Powers, Levi P. Smith IV and Nicole Cedar Smith.
She was predeceased by her husband Levi P. Smith Jr., her son-in-law Michel Murphy, Albert William and Barbara Hendon Watts, parents; step-mother Dorothy V. Watts; brothers Howard D. Watts and Donald A. Watts; and nieces Barbara Elizabeth Watts and Barbara Watts Lennox.
The family is deeply grateful for the loving care Sybil received from the staff at the Shelburne Bay Senior Living Community. It also wants to recognize the VNA Hospice program and its nurses, who ministered to Sybil and her family with such sensitivity and professionalism. It is with deep gratitude that the family acknowledges the many expressions of love, respect and support from her neighbors and friends during her final days.
Visiting hours are Friday, Jan. 29, 2010 at Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home, 71 S. Union St., Burlington from 4 to 7 p.m. A Celebration of her life will be held Saturday, Jan. 30, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. in the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Burlington. Burial will be in the family lot in Lakeview Cemetery. Arrangements are in care of Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home & Cremation Service – Burlington.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to your favorite charity in memory of Sybil.
