(nee Smith, June 9, 1941 - December 2, 2025) Mom died peacefully, at her beautiful home on the St. Lawrence River, in Brockville, after a brave battle with cancer. Survived by her husband, James; her children, Jeffrey (Jane Kovarikova) and Stephen (Kiki Sauriol-Roode); grandchildren, Jackson, Kennedy, Aidan and Emmett Roode; as well as Ava Sauriol, to whom she was an unofficial Grandma. Also survived by sisters, Beverley Johnson (Larry Broady) and Diane Miller (late Gene). Predeceased by her parents, Deverde ("Smokey") Smith and Zella Smith (nee Kennedy); and by Beverley's late husband, Wade Johnson. Mom was born in Collingwood and moved to Brockville as a child when her father, an OPP officer, was transferred there. It was there she met James "Jim" Roode, the love of her life. After a first date in May 1955, they married in June 1963 and celebrated their 62nd anniversary earlier this year. Mom was a teacher. She started teaching in Brockville and then completed her B.A. at Queen's part-time while continuing to teach. The majority of her career was spent teaching at Eitz Chaim in Toronto. While not of the Jewish faith, she was affectionately known as "Rabbi Roode." In the early 1970s, Mom and Dad purchased the Roode family cottage from our grandfather, and our family (including cousins, aunts and uncles) spent many happy summers there. Eventually, Mom and Dad built a modern home on the property and retired there. Mom was a "doer." Aside from being a gourmet cook and an avid gardener and reader, at one time or another she tried her hand at watercolour painting, caning chairs, refinishing furniture, sewing, quilting, writing short stories, writing a play (that her students performed at her school), and playing and watching tennis. Mom was also a devoted Blue Jays fan, and we thank the team for providing her with a thrilling playoff season that she enjoyed watching in her final weeks. Special thanks to Dr. Wendy Parulaker of KGH, Michele, Brenda and the entire Bayshore team, and especially Sachinkumar Macwan, her live-in caregiver, for the compassionate treatment and care they each provided to Mom during her illness. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Kingston Health Sciences Centre (
kingstonhsc.ca/donate). At Virginia's request, a celebration of her life will occur in 2026 at the family cottage.
Published by The Globe and Mail from Dec. 6 to Dec. 10, 2025.
