Bebe Smith

Bebe G. Smith

July 9, 1922 - October 20, 2018

"She always left 'em laughing..."
Bebe was born on July 9, 1922 in New York City to Hyman and Eva Siegel, a first-generation American. She moved to San Francisco during World War II, and worked as a civilian at Fort Mason, where she met and was engaged to a colonel, Charlie, who died in a plane crash. She met Howard Smith, a Navy man, and they married in 1952 and had their only child, Susan, in 1955. In addition to raising her daughter and caring for her dying husband, Bebe was involved in many activities. Her career spanned working in personnel for the US Geological Survey, to serving as a teaching assistant, to being a rental agent. She was a dedicated volunteer - among her accomplishments were starting an elementary school library and an after-school enrichment program, stepping in as a Girl Scout leader, providing therapy to children with Cerebral Palsy, and running a support group for mentally ill adults. Above all, Bebe was a devoted friend, always there for anyone who needed her, offering a ride, a partner in adventures, a shoulder to cry on or a hard-boiled egg. She was also a great "mom" to her animal friends, taking care of dogs and cats since she was a child. Her sense of humor kept everyone going; even in her later years. This is how she would like to be remembered – so find something to laugh about in her memory. We will keep laughing in her memory: daughter Susan Siegel of Carrboro (partner John Claydon), nephew Lewis Siegel, nieces Lesley Siegel, Sally Sestini and Karen McIntyre of Southern California, kitties Rosie, Persephone and Penelope, and all those whose lives she touched. Thanks to her special caregivers at Brookdale and Hillcrest, and especially her outstanding caregivers from Hillcrest Home Health who helped make her quality of life her last few months the best it could be.