SARA SMITH

Who Carried the Sunlight with Her, Wherever She Went. Sara Rosemary Smith (née Willis), beloved wife, mother, grandmother, friend, and teacher, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, in Guelph, Ontario, at the age of 85. Sara moved through the world with open arms and an open heart. Her spirit continues to inspire optimism and wonder in the many lives she touched. Sara was born to Reuben and Betty Willis and grew up alongside her sister, Pam, in Toronto and Montreal. Reuben and Betty valued perseverance, compassion, creativity, and humour - and from this foundation, Sara emerged expressive, imaginative, and resolute - qualities that came alive through school theatre, writing, and dance, as well as in the deep friendships she would carry throughout her life. She attended Huron College at the University of Western Ontario, where she earned a B.A. in English and History and deepened her love of literature and ideas. It was there she met Paul Smith, who would become her best friend, constant companion, and the great love of her life. She was drawn to his calm strength and integrity; he was drawn to her sense of fun and fearless spirit - on their first Christmas together, with eyes twinkling, she tucked a lump of coal into Paul's stocking. They would continue to live, love, and laugh together for over 60 years: "Yoh-hoh-hee-hoh-hoh!" they'd chime while boating on a breezy summer's day in their treasured 30,000 Islands - wind in their hair, bound for adventure. Together, they built a life rooted in faith, family, and friendship, centered around their children and grandchildren. Summers were spent on Twelve Mile Bay, where the days stretched long and the open water beckoned - O'Donnell's Point cookouts, Pomeroy campfires, swimming the six islands, and sleeping under the stars. Sara also gave freely of her time, building children's programs for the Moose Deer Point First Nation, whose families she came to know and value. For Sara, the journey was the destination, and it was a lifetime devoted to others and sprinkled with ice cream. If you listen closely, you can still hear her singing "Land of the Silver Birch" as she headed out the bay with her family to watch the falling sun light up the sky. "Blue lake and rocky shore, I will return once more…" The only problem with summers with Sara was that you never wanted them to end. Sara was a gifted educator and lifelong learner. As teacher-librarian at Brock Road Public School and later at Jean Little Public School, she founded and fostered the Rare Book Club, inspiring a generation of children - and beloved colleagues - to discover and craft their own stories. (One April Fool's Day, the tightknit staff of Brock Road quietly vanished, leaving Principal Love to discover a school with no teachers. They reappeared - just in time for O Canada). Sara won the Wellington County Teaching Award for making learning feel like a kind of magic, and she brought that same spark to everything she touched. Sara leaves behind many cherished friends and extended family. She formed bonds easily and tended them with handwritten notes and steadfast care. Her friendships spanned every chapter of her life - from childhood and college to teaching, parenting, and retirement. And, together with Paul, they deepened around dinner tables and bridge tables in Guelph, Twelve Mile Bay, Doral Village, and Captiva Island - and through travel adventures and a shared grounding in faith. Sara was a sister and Past President of Chapter L of PEO, a Past President of the Chalmers United Church Women, and a Spiritual Retreat Leader at Ignatius College. Her spiritual homes included Three Willows United Church in Guelph and St. Alfred's Episcopal Church in Palm Harbor, Florida. Wherever she went, she built community. Sara is survived by her four children: Doug Smith and his wife, Julie, Sara Halstead and her husband, Terry, Colin Smith and his wife, Stephanie, and Andrew Smith and his wife, Jennifer Bottos. She was a devoted Nana to Sarah and Adam Poirier, Megan and Nick Smith (mother Marcie), Charlotte, Alex, and Nathan Halstead, Abigail (Abby), Lucas, Meredith, and Rhys Smith, and William and Abby Bottos-Smith - shaping their lives with warm hugs, a bright smile, a welcoming ear, and Thanksgiving scavenger hunts. She also leaves behind her dearest friend, Cherrill Walker - known lovingly to the family as Aunt Cherrill. Sara believed spirits - like flowers - needed nurturing. "Eight hugs a day is maintenance!" she'd remind the family - "Maintenance!" Sara moved at a different pace - unhurried - slow enough to take it all in. She would pause to gaze at the trees. Bend down to touch a flower. Marvel at a leaf. Stand back to take in the sky. She had an eye for beauty and wonder, and found it in the smallest details. And when your eyes followed hers, your world brightened too. Most of all, she was unhurried in her relationships. She listened deeply, laughed easily, and left you feeling seen without judgment and loved without limit. "Paul and I want to go home together," she shared at their 50th wedding anniversary in 2012. "As soul mates, our journey is leading us homeward to God." Now, they are home - together. We will celebrate Sara's life at 11 a.m. on October 25 at Three Willows United Church in Guelph. Contributions in her memory may be made to the church.