Verna G. Smith

Verna G. Smith, of Seabrook Village in Tinton Falls, formerly of Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, died December 25, 2020. She was 98.

Born on the family farm in Kansas, Verna was one of seven children born to Ephraim and Mae Gabrielson. Raised first on the farm, she moved to South Dakota to live with her aunt after her father's early death when she was 8. Later, her mother moved the family to the San Francisco bay area in California.

Verna was studying to be an RN at the University of California, Berkeley when she met classmate Donald P. Smith, who was studying to be a minister. They were married on December 21, 1943. Shortly after the end of World War II, the couple became missionaries in the Philippines where Verna prepared audio-visual materials for neo-natal care. There, the first two of their four children were born.

Returning to the states, Donald took a job with the Presbyterian Church headquarters in New York City, and the couple moved temporarily to New York. There, the family welcomed twin boys, and their family of six was completed. The family later moved to Long Island, East Orange, Stony Point NY and Glen Rock, where their children graduated high school. Later, Verna and Don lived in Wayne, NJ and at Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains, NJ.

Verna held a long career, including serving as a school nurse in Paterson, and later as a school psychologist in Fair Lawn. Following the B.S. in Nursing she had earned from Berkeley, she earned M.S. degrees in Spirituality and Psychology from Seton Hall University.

Verna is lovingly survived by her children, Verna Elizabeth "Betty" Cornell, Donald "Bob" Smith, Peter Smith, and Paul Smith; her grandchildren, Emily Cornell Ruiz, Amanda Cornell Lurgio, Allyson Smith, Robert Smith, Jeffrey Smith, Ashley Smith, Lauren Smith, Sean Smith, and Kristopher Smith; as well as 15 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Donald in 2018.

Verna has touched countless lives with her endless love, commitment to spirituality, and her Christian faith.

Verna is the author of several books, including "Walking with God Through Grief," and "Finding Your Treasure."

One of her poems follows:

"When I shall leave this earth

go back where I will be for all eternity

my life replete with mystery

Do not mourn overmuch for me, my dearest family

Instead, rejoice, you've known a love

that totally believes in you

departs reluctantly and trusts in God

to see you through your tears -

your breaking hearts, refined, will soon

become a working harmony."

Funeral services will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, the Smith family requests donations to The Protestant Community at Seabrook, 3004 Essex Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07753.