Edith M. Goodman

Obituary of Edith M. Goodman

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Edith Mae Goodman née Smith was born on November 11, 1934 to Amelia (Seawright) Smith and Samuel Smith Sr. in Sumter, South Carolina. After a short illness, she departed this world and returned to her Heavenly Father on January 15, 2026 at her home, surrounded by her children.

Edith, who was called "Edie Mae" by her mother and "Edis" by her father, was the second of seven children. Her parents moved the family from South Carolina to the Bronx, New York when she was five years old. Edith and her siblings, Elizabeth, Samuel Jr, George, Robert, Leon and Amelia, were raised in the Bronx and on the Lower East Side of Manhattan as her parents worked hard to care for their family.

Edith met the love of her life, the man who would become her husband, Frederic Goodman (known as Freddy Boy) in elementary school. Freddy and Edie had a life long connection that produced four children; Carlton, Gene Elliot, Melissa, and Treena Lynn and a multitude of fond memories. Their connection survived their divorce and blossomed into a friendship for the ages.

In the late 1960s, after becoming a single mother, Edith devoted her time and energy to raising her children. She worked tirelessly as a clerk / typist for the New York Public Library. She was a proud member of DC37's union and she passed along a strong work ethic to all of her children.

Edith was also a strong advocate for education and during the late 1970's and early 80's she enrolled part time in Borough of Manhattan Community College. Even while working two jobs, she was able to complete her Associate's degree in sociology. Her professors commented on her diligence and sense of humor and how she added so much to the proceedings in class.

At the age of 62, Edith retired from the Library and was ready to move on to the next phase of her life. She recited her need to have a place to go and something useful to do as a mantra. She never wanted to stay home and sit around. When she left the library, she was gifted a set of library lion bookends, Patience and Fortitude. Their names became a description of her motivating force.

After retiring from the library, Edith began volunteering at the New York Foundling Hospital. She crocheted blankets and hats for the babies in the NICU and nursery. She then volunteered for several years at the Salvation Army.

In 2004, 79 Orchard Road became the family hub when Edith and her daughter joined Treena in Maplewood. Nana, as Edith came to be known, dedicated her time to helping raise her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. Many of them can recount tales of being picked up, dropped off, or ferried around Maplewood and South Orange in her red Jeep.

Edith was a Christian who accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior while still a child. She belonged to a number of churches over the years; Pentecostal churches as well as storefront Church of God churches. Most recently she was a long-term member of Transcend Worship Center in Irvington, NJ.

Within her family, Nana was known for her generosity. Although she was fiercely independent and reluctant to accept help for herself, she was always eager to provide assistance to others. No one who visited ever left Nana's house empty handed. No grandchild or great-grandchild who delivered her mail or a bag of groceries, ever left without a chocolate chip cookie or popsicle.

Edith is predeceased by her siblings, George Smith, Samuel Smith,Jr. and Elizabeth Lawson. She is survived by her younger siblings, Robert Smith, Leon Smith, and Amelia Chisolm as well as her four children; Carlton, Elliot, Melissa, and Treena; her nine grandchildren; Spencer, Adrian and Kyl-Whitney, Carris and Chelsea, Callen, Avery, Jordan and Jared and eight great-grandchildren; Arielle, Joaquin, Elias and Mateo, Eden, Adrian, Jr., Julia and Emilia and a host of nieces and nephews, loved ones and friends.

Although her passing will leave a giant, Nana-sized hole in all of our hearts, we will honor her life, legacy, and the caring she shared with us all by spreading peace, joy, and love. Those who knew Nana know she wouldn't expect anything less.