Annette Martha Smith

November 16, 1922 – October 16, 2018

Carmel, California

Annette Smith passed away peacefully at home on October 16, one month shy of her 96th birthday. One might say she died from complications of a life well lived. She was surrounded by her loving daughter and son-in-law.

Annette was born in Elgin, ND, the sixth of eight children, to Christina (Strohmaier) and Christian Pahl. The family moved to Lodi, CA in 1934. Annette had an extraordinary life including an eleven-year career as a top TWA international flight attendant where she was able to use her fluency in German. Annette met Jack Smith, an international executive with Ford, on a blind date in NYC and went home that night engaged at the age of 35. She was married in Buenos Aires six weeks later and spent the subsequent 25 years living abroad in Argentina, Mexico, Denmark, England and St. Thomas. She moved to Carmel in 1985 following the death of her husband, Jack.

Annette’s passion for learning saw her earn a pilot license in her early twenties, become an interior designer, an art aficionado and artist, a writer of her own memoirs and, most proudly, achieving Life Master status in duplicate bridge. She was like a second mother to many. Her generosity, great conversation and understated elegance will be missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her daughter, Larisa Thurston (John), and several nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, November 17, 2018 from 4pm – 6 pm in this Living Room of the Cypress Inn, Carmel, In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent in Annette’s name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 800-955-4572.