Bernadette Smith

MADISON – Our beloved mother, Bernadette C “Bert” Smith (nee Carroll), age 90, passed away on Friday, July 1, 2016 at All Saints Assisted Living. She was born in Rugby, ND on March 9, 1926 the eldest child of Raymond and Bonnie Carroll. The family moved to Madison in 1930 where they settled in on University Ave. She attended St Raphael’s Grade School and Central High School (Class of 1943). For a short time during the war she worked at a Firestone factory in Akron, OH.

In 1945, Bert met her husband Charles P (“Charlie”) Smith while he was home on convalescent leave. They were married at St Marks in Milwaukee, WI in August 1947. Shortly after they moved to Milton, WI where Charlie attended Milton College and children soon followed. The young family frequently moved as Charlie’s jobs demanded. Finally in 1961 they settled into the house on S Spooner St in Madison where they lived for 28 years. During that time, Bert worked at the UW-Extension and the Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services from which she retired in 1988.

Our mother’s greatest joys were her family, her friends and her faith. She was the family rock; the glue that held us together. Bert was immensely proud of her children, adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, loved her siblings, nieces and nephews and “adopted” many people into our family. She had a wealth of friends from school, the Greenbush community, their many moves, her bridge club, her work and political life, her volunteer activities and her travels. She cherished each and every one of them and was so good about keeping in touch. Her strong Catholic faith sustained her through the death of her mother, husband and son and St Maria Goretti Parish was her spiritual home.

To many, she will be remembered as the “hostess with the mostess” for the hospitality she displayed after every Badger home game at the house on Spooner St for legions of guests. Bert and Charlie were ambassadors on Madison’s inaugural Friendship Force exchange which led them to open their home to a myriad of visitors and students from many foreign countries. Our mother was a fierce advocate for children, the poor and veterans and spent countless hours volunteering for the causes she believed in such as Meals-on-Wheels, food pantries, assisting the libraries, providing pre-show meals for local theater groups and volunteering for the VA. She loved live music, dancing, theater, traveling and treasured the time they spent with their friends at their condo in Cable, WI. Together, Bert and Charlie saw and did more than they ever imagined. She lived a long, full life and was at peace when she passed on to her next adventure.

Bert is survived by son Steve Smith (Jeanne) of Madison; daughters Megan Smith (Jen Kern) of Seattle, WA and Haley Smith of Madison; grand-daughters Tonya Vike (Tim) of Stoughton; Lisa Bayorek (Charlie) of Goose Creek, SC and Kristyn Blazich (Michael) of Waunakee; great-grandchildren Russell and Brooke Vike; Sam and Will Blazich and C.J. and Landon Bayorek; brother Raymond Carroll (Kathleen) of Madison; sister Judith Prestigiacomo (Frank) of Madison; and sister Kathryn Fiore of Waupun, WI; many beloved nieces, nephews and adopted family members.

Bert was preceded in death by her parents; her son Charles P “Charlie” Smith, II (2006) and her loving husband Charles P “Charlie” Smith (2014).

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 11, 2016 at ST MARIA GORETTI CATHOLIC CHURCH, 5313 Flad Ave, Madison, WI. Relatives and friends may call on the family at the church from 10:00 am until the time of the Mass. Monsignor Michael Burke will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be made to St Maria Goretti Parish, the Goodman Community Center or Domestic Abuse Intervention Center (DAIS). The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to all the staff at Coventry Village; All Saints Assisted Living; the Agrace HospiceCare Palliative Care team; Dr Christopher Nestleroad and Brooke LaChance, APNP of UW-Health for their kind treatment of our mother.

She may be gone, but never forgotten. She will live on in our hearts and souls every day.