Marilyn A. Smith

Marilyn A. Smith (Hopkins)

Marilyn A. Smith, 91, wife of the late Walter J. Smith and, later, Jason Hopkins, Jr., passed away very peacefully on February 17th, surrounded by her family.

She was a daughter of the late Evelyn L. (Bishop) and Frank W. Colwell of Greenville, later making her home in Foster for many years.

Marilyn graduated, at sixteen, from Smithfield Commercial High School in 1951 where she was voted Most Popular and Wittiest in her class. This should come as no surprise to anyone who knew her. She was ever the social butterfly and had the best laugh in the room. She was known by several nicknames: "Mim" to her husband, her sister and the Smith family, "Mimi" to her many cousins, aunts and uncles, and "Daisy" to her great-grandson Freddie.

Marilyn worked for the Town of Foster in the 70's and 80's, ultimately serving as Foster's Tax Collector. Though the town Tax Collector is, generally, not its favorite person, Marilyn was known to be a warm and compassionate listener, willing to assist and extend a helping hand to friends, family and acquaintances in whatever way possible.

She had an artist's soul and loved to create beautiful works through sewing, knitting, painting, pottery and ceramics. She loved music, having taught herself to play the piano, and was a choir member for many years at North Foster Baptist Church where she also served as its Treasurer.

Marilyn loved, and truly cherished, her family - both immediate and extended. She leaves her children Cindy Lambert (Mike) of Putnam, CT, Wendy Stenhouse (Mike) of Cranston, Walter Smith (Renee) of Plainfield, CT, and reunites with her late daughter Holly Hanson. She leaves four grandchildren, Jared Arnold, Jennifer Arnold, Neil Slader (Maggie) and Dylan Hanson, and two great-grandchildren, Reagan and Freddie Murphy.

She leaves one sister, Lois Kemp of Westerly and a brother, Bruce Kettelle, of Maryland with whom she was united in 2011. Marilyn leaves several beloved nieces and nephews as well as a whole "crew" of cousins and friends with whom she shared many great memories and, certainly, many a good laugh. She will be sorely missed.

A celebration of her life will be held in the coming weeks. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Gilman Funeral Home & Crematory. For memorial guestbook visit www.GilmanAndValade.com