Dorothy Helen Smith

Dorothy Helen Smith, 90, of Phoenix, Arizona was called home Saturday, September 11, 2021. Dorothy was born the middle of seven children to Carl and Margaret Freund in Toledo, Ohio on August 23, 1931. She was raised in East Detroit, Michigan (now Eastpointe) and attended St. Veronica Elementary School. She graduated valedictorian of her class in 1949 from Saint Gertrude High School. Dorothy earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics with minors in Physics, Chemistry, English, and French from Nazareth College in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

While attending college, Dorothy met her future husband, Joseph. They married within just a short six months following their first date at her college Mardi Gras dance. Their first of ten children arrived just as Dorothy was graduating from college.

Dorothy was a devout Catholic with deep faith and trust in God. She was passionate about learning and dedicated to her family. She began her teaching career at St. Joseph’s Parochial School while continuing to grow her family. After retiring from her twenty-year teaching career, she moved to Phoenix with her husband and their five youngest children. Throughout her life she continued to be an active parishioner at church. She was an enthusiastic choir member and trusted treasurer.

Dorothy worked diligently to master multiple languages and loved puzzles of any type, especially crossword. She was voracious reader with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. She spent many hours sewing, knitting, and crocheting for enjoyment. She was always up for playing a board game or card game. She coordinated activities such as bingo at the senior community where she lived for many years. With the heart of a teacher and a love for learning, she instilled these qualities in her children and in many others. Her grandchildren have fond memories of learning to read and engaging in various educational games she would play with them.

Dorothy’s legacy will be her commitment to her faith, her humility, her passion for learning, and the calm influence she had on her numerous offspring.

She has been reunited with her husband of 29 years, Joseph Francis Smith; her son Daniel Jerome Smith; her daughter Julia Anne Smith her siblings Margaret Sweeney, Carl, Lou and John Freund.

She is survived by her eight children; Joseph Francis Smith Jr., Dorothy Helen (Michael) Knapp, David Michael (Teresa) Smith, Jeanne Marie Troyer, John William Smith, Donna Christine (Timothy) Nelson, Jeannette Therese Cramer, Douglas Gregory Smith; and her siblings Edward Freund and Pauline Ladensack.

She leaves behind 30 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; a total of 77 descendants.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ChapeloftheChimesMortuary.com for the Smith family.