Diane Smith

1937 - 2022

Diane (Zaino) Smith, 84, of South Windsor, beloved wife of the late Robert J. Smith, passed away after an extended illness on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022.

Diane was born on July 2, 1937, in Hartford. The loving daughter of the late Guiseppe and Maria (Dione) Zaino, she was the youngest of four children. Growing up in "Little Italy" on Queen Street in Hartford, she attended St. Joseph Cathedral schools through 10th grade, where she thrived socially and academically. Before her transition to Hartford Public High School, she met her future husband, "Bobby". Diane continued to thrive in and out of school, cultivating her talents in many classes, but especially in art and music. She learned to play piano and developed her sketching and painting skills. After graduating HPHS's class of 1955, she quickly joined Aetna as an administrative assistant, a position she would excel in over the years and gave rise to her role as an executive assistant in the Internal Revenue Service. She married Bob in 1959 and they had three children, Rob, Kim, and Joe. Shortly after Joe was born, they moved from Sargeant Street in Hartford to South Windsor. There, Diane actively supported Bob's developing insurance business, at times serving as a stand-in receptionist at the front desk at Smith Brothers, and his tenure as a councilman and mayor of the town. Always an avid artist, Diane painted in her spare time and got very involved in the local art league where she received awards for her work and much notoriety. Every Christmas season, Diane would design a unique greeting card that included her drawing and an inspirational quote or message. Famously late, Diane would get those cards out no later than Christmas eve - the ink likely still drying on them as they were sent to the many lucky souls on her large Christmas mailing list. People would ask Bob and her kids in December if Diane was doing her cards again this year and the reply always was, of course, she's got stationary and envelopes all over the kitchen table! Only a year ago, many of those cards sat in frames in a display case, where they enjoyed rave reviews from the residents at her condominium complex. In the late 1970's and 1980's, Diane and her friend Dolores Lawler started a business designing women's clothing, which included some runway shows, a commission to do the governor's wife's dress for the Governor's Ball, and many trips to Manhattan's garment district. Perhaps her greatest creations, however, were the custom wedding gowns she made for her daughter and two daughters-in law. Over the next 30 years, Diane had traveled with Bob to Italy many times, eventually connecting with her extended family. She held a strong bond for all things Italian, and her trips there stirred her passion for art, food, architecture and of course, her ancestry. Sadly, Bob died in 2009 and Diane's health began to suffer. Over the past 13 years, she would only make a few trips back to visit family and take in the Italian experience. From the very beginning of her life to the end, Diane was loved by many people, and she shared that love with her friends and family. She was surrounded by her family when she passed away on Feb. 12.

Diane is survived by her three children and their families, Dr. Rob Smith and his wife, Pilar Pueyo of Waltham, Massachusetts and their son Evan Smith; Kim Connolly and her husband, Brian and their son Brian Connolly II; and Joe Smith and his wife, Lisa and their three children Alexandra, Grace and Bryce Smith.

We hope that you found Dad again Mom, and songo d'oro!

It's been said that, whenever someone helps a stranger, it reaffirms the love that unites humanity. In lieu of flowers, we ask those who wish to please select a charity of their choice and make a donation in her name.

Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, South Windsor has care of the arrangements. To leave an online condolence please visit

www.carmonfuneralhome.com