Mavis Smith

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of beloved mother and grandmother, Mavis Eugene Smith, who died on March 17, 2024, at the age of 97.

Born in Crosskeys, Manchester, Jamaica, Mavis immigrated to Montreal in 1960. A woman of many interests and talents, she worked in the health care field and had her own seamstress and tailoring, and baking businesses. She was a lover of travel, reading and writing. She was open-minded and curious, working at significant cultural events like Expo 67. Most of all she valued connection with her family, friends and members of her community. She was a mother figure to many and a compassionate ear to neighbours and acquaintances.

She was a champion of higher education and life-long learner, often taking courses and certifications outside of work hours. The Mavis Smith Scholarship for Afro-Caribbean students was established in her honour at Concordia University in 2021 to help increase accessibility to higher education for Caribbean youth.

She retired in 1992 to be a full-time caretaker to her grandchildren who she adored and continued to travel annually to Jamaica to visit and care for her parents until their passing.

She is preceded by her mother Eliza, father Louis, sisters Rachel, Gerilyn, Hazel, and Wilhel, brothers Lester, John, James, Neville, Victor, Astley, cousins Ethlyn, Beryl, Sam.

She is survived by daughter Melody, granddaughter Olivia, grandson Sebastian, brother Hopeton, sister Nelly, cousins Thelma, Pearl, Alfred, and their families, and many other loving relatives of the Smith and Hutchison families in the Caribbean, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

She was a loving mother, doting grandmother, committed friend, trailblazer, entrepreneur, proud Jamaican and proud Canadian. She will be greatly missed.

The family would like to a heartfelt thank you to the internal medicine team and palliative care team at the Verdun Hospital in Montréal, for the care, dignity, and compassion they showed Mavis in her final weeks. They are eternally grateful.

A celebration of life will be held at Centre funéraire Côte-des-Neiges, 4525 Chem. de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montréal, QC H3V 1E7, on April 3. The viewing will take place from 10 AM - 12 PM, followed by the service at 12 PM. Refreshments and a light lunch will be served following the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made in her memory to the Verdun Hospital

https://www.jedonneenligne.org

Or the MUHC Cedars Cancer Centre

https://www.cedars.ca