Jeanne Lynch Smith

Jeanne Lynch Smith was a Native Newporter, born July 14, 1928 to Irene Huppee Lynch and Jeremiah J. Lynch. She graduated from Rogers High School and then went on to Endicott College, where she majored in fashion retailing, a passion she enjoyed throughout her life. Upon graduation, she worked as an Assistant Buyer for Gladding’s Department Store in Providence, Rhode Island and later worked at Gorham Silver Company, where she enjoyed choosing the sterling to be used in the fashion shoots for bridal magazines. She married and shortly thereafter had two children, Sharon (Sherri) Smith Danosky and Frances (Lynn) Smith Bartram and for many years enjoyed staying home, raising her children. She co-led a Brownie Troop and spent many afternoons at the Third Beach Club in Middletown Rhode Island.

When her children were older, she returned to work at a local bank – then known as Old Stone Bank and worked there until she retired at the age of 62. She volunteered for a few years at the Newport Preservation Society, but found she really wanted to go back to work. So she became an assistant librarian for the Middletown Free Library, in Middletown, Rhode Island. Being a voracious reader, it was the ideal position. She could share different books she loved with library patrons and recommend the perfect book, when asked. At eighty-five years old, she decided to retire permanently.

During the later years of her life, Jeanne traveled extensively with her brother, her niece, Jane and nephew, John and her daughter, Sharon. She was always the perfect, enthusiastic travel companion, always willing to try anything. In Ireland she discovered Guinness, being introduced to the beverage by her nephew, John. In Scotland, her niece, Jane introduced her to single malt whisky as they traveled over the Scottish Highlands. She had always wanted to go to Paris – so her niece, Jane and her daughter, Sharon accompanied her on a whirlwind tour – drinking champagne along the way. Her favorite traveling companion was undoubtedly her brother, Jeremiah. They travelled alone and with family members to Italy, Sicily, Greece, England, Ireland, Scotland and more. During one trip to Cyprus, she and her brother purchased some rugs and miraculously transported them back to their hotel on the back of a moped.

When she was first married and raising children, she designed and built a house, choosing the “perfect lot”. It was the first house on the street and she named the street Sherri Lane (after daughter, Sharon). She lived there until she was 93. Her neighbors fondly referred to her as the Mayor of Sherri Lane. There, she created a beautiful garden, inspired by the Cotswold’s in England and tended to it well into her later years. Once her children had grown, she lived alone and enjoyed her solitude with time to read and garden, while also being free to socialize and travel. As she became older, though, she became more and more isolated.

When she was 93, her daughter Sharon helped her move to an assisted living facility near her in Connecticut. While there, she once again enjoyed an active, full life. She made new friends, joined the Book Club, the Travel Club, and the Garden Club, took art classes, met friends late in the afternoon in the Pub and even discovered a love for the Opera.

She passed away peacefully, in her own apartment, with family at her bedside, and support from Hospice Care. She is survived by her daughter, Sharon Danosky, her niece Jane Lynch and her nephew, John Lynch. She passed as she lived her life, with strength, dignity and grace – and a wee bit of humor.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to RVNAhealth: Hospice and Comfort Care, in memory of Jeanne L Smith. (https://rvnahealth.org/services/comfort-well/hospice-services)