Phoebe Dale Smith

Smith, Phoebe Dale
SELKIRK - Phoebe Dale (Cohen) Smith of Selkirk, N.Y., died peacefully on December 7, 2021, at the age of 78. Phoebe was born in Brooklyn to Louis Cohen and Cele (Jacobs) Cohen. She was married to Cameron Smith at 5th Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York on April 8, 1967. Among her significant work experiences was her service as a Navy Wave in the early 60's, during which she supported a visit by President Kennedy to the Naval Base in Newport, R.I. She also enjoyed stints of employment with Merrill Lynch, the Easter Seals Society and Living Resources. She was a nanny for two families, building relationships with the parents and children that endured long after she moved on to other jobs. In her later years, she enjoyed volunteering with the first graders at A.W. Becker School in Selkirk, passing the time with her dog, Diamond, and seeing the world. She saw London, Paris, Jerusalem, Petra, and the Pyramids in Cairo, but also some more far afield places, like Cameroon and Eritrea.
It was Phoebe's relationships and her refusal to ever give up on any person, no matter what, that defined her. Her greatest joys and deepest pride came from her roles as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, grandmother, aunt, neighbor and friend. She reveled in Christmas gift-giving. She is survived by her dear retired brother, Robert Cohen, of Queen Creek, Ariz.; and two sons, Matthew Smith, a diplomat currently assigned to Washington, D.C., and Cameron Smith, a financial advisor for Merrill Lynch, who lives in Pensacola, Fla. Phoebe had five grandchildren, whom she adored. They are Avery and Amelia Smith, Alec Walden, Kelsey and Charlotte Smith. She also deeply loved her many nieces and nephews, and all of their children, and she had countless friends, many of whom live in N.Y.'s Capital District, where she spent her last 44 years. Phoebe was predeceased by her husband, Cameron; her son, Stewart; and her sister, Alyce (Cohen) Lee.
Phoebe's memorial service was delayed due to the pandemic. It will be held on October 18, at Meyer's Funeral Home, 741 Delaware Ave. in Delmar, N.Y. at 3 p.m. Those unable to attend in person, who wish to attend virtually, may send an email to funeral@empireone.net and a Zoom video link will be provided. In lieu of flowers, we ask that donations be made to St. Margaret's Center, 314 South Manning Blvd., Albany, N.Y. 12208.