Helen Perry SMITH

SMITH, Helen Perry Bryan At Toronto on Friday, June 22, 2018 Helen died peacefully in her sleep at The Bradgate Arms Retirement Residence in her 86th year. Helen was born on January 11, 1932 in Madison, Wisconsin. She was the only child of Dr. G. S. Bryan, a Charleston, South Carolina-born scientist, and Katherine Neely Perry of Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Helen graduated from Walnut Hill School, Natick, Mass. And graduated summa cum laude from Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts in 1953. After receiving a Master's degree in English and Library Science from the University of Wisconsin, Helen commenced a long career as a librarian in 1955 with the Boys and Girls House of the Toronto Public Libraries. She shared a discerning love of books with the library's young patrons and with her many friends of all ages. Her knowledge of literature and history was capacious, making her the best of conversationalists and someone to whom you could confidently apply for facts and discerning judgement. She punctuated walks with her Cairn terriers around her Toronto Poplar Plains neighbourhood with many stops to exchange thoughts on gardening, books, travel, religion, pets and poetry. She remembered birthdays and special events of every child in her neighbourhood. Her many friends, relatives and co-parishioners at St. Thomas Church remember fondly her steady stream of handwritten notes, cheerful or concerned, with their ardent under linings, quotes, quips and exclamation points. In 1956 she married Ronald Morton Smith at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, Wisconsin. Ronald, a native of Galashiels, Scotland had his own colourful history. After supporting the code breaking work undertaken at Bletchley Park during WWII, he returned to Oxford to complete his studies in Sanskrit and Avestan. Receiving an appointment at the East Asian Studies Department at the University of Toronto, he impressed faculty and students by wearing his kilt every day regardless of downpours, blizzards or other hazards. With Helen at the wheel and Ronald navigating, the couple set off on many a "toot" to enjoy the autumn foliage and visit friends around the province. Ronald predeceased Helen in 1996. Helen and Ronald also had an infant son, George Bryan Smith who died in 1957. Helen is survived by her cousins Mary Eagan, Libby Carr and Harriet Whitehorse, Ronald's nephew John Robert Smith and John's wife Ruth, and by her many, many friends. A Requiem Mass will be held at St. Thomas's Anglican Church, 383 Huron Street, Toronto, on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. Cremation will follow. There will be no visitation. Helen requested that there be no memorial. There will be a reception in the Parish Hall immediately following the service. Burial in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials, if desired, may be made to: The Cairn Terrier Club of Canada c/o Mr. E.R. Wall, R.R. 3, Flesherton, ON N0C 1E0 or The Secord Animal Hospital 3271 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M4N 2L5 or The Pet Trust Fund c/o Office of the Dean, Ontario Veterinary College, 50 Stone Road E., Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 or University of St. Andrews St. Salvators College, North Street, St Andrews KY16 9AJ, UK Designated as a memorial to Ronald M. Smith (M.A. 1939)