Bertha E. Smith

HERKIMER and WEST WINFIELD – Bertha E. Smith age 96 of West German Street, formerly of West Winfield, passed away on Wednesday,September 24, 2025 in Valley Health Services.

Bertha was born on September 18, 1929 in Schuyler Lake, daughter of the late Raymond J Hadsell and Bertha E Shaul Hadsell. She was raised and educated in West Winfield. On October 14, 1946 she married Vaughn L Smith in West Exeter, with a blessed union of 58 years until his passing in 2004.

While raising 6 children, Bertha was a homemaker and helped on the family's dairy farm. They ran the lunch counter at Boss's Livestock Market, then she worked at Waterville Knitting Mill.

Bertha was a 4-H leader for many years. She enjoyed crosswords, crocheting, cross-stitch and loved to knit. She made her own patterns, was a master knitter, and known for her knitted Christmas stockings!

She loved bowling and had been a member of the Mohawk Valley Bowling Association since 1969. She earned many patches, pins, plaques and trophies over the years and attended many state bowling tournaments. She was secretary/ treasurer for many years too!

Bertha loved her family, and looked forward to birthdays, holidays, and every family gathering.

She always said "I'm going to live to be 100, so I can be on that Smucker's Jar". I guess God had other plans.

She was a friend to many and will never be forgotten.

We would like to express a special thank you to Shelley and Stephanie Tucker, her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, for all of their extra care and attention while she was at Valley Health.

Surviving her are six children; Bryan Smith and his wife Ruthann of Sherburne, Lucy Schram and her husband John of Manchester, Carolyn Patrick and her husband Richard of West Winfield, Trudy Piscione and the late John Piscione of West Winfield, Bradley Smith and his wife Jackie of Mooresburg, Tennessee, Wayne Smith and his wife Tracy of West Winfield, seventeen grandchildren, many great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Besides her parents and husband Vaughn she was preceded in death by three brothers; Frank Simonds, Adelbert Simonds, William Simonds, anda sister Marion Starr.

Calling hours for Mrs. Smith will be held on Monday, September 29th from 11:00am to 1:00pm at J. Seaton McGrath Funeral Home Inc., 40 West James Street, Richfield Springs. A funeral service to follow at 1:00pm at the funeral home, with the Reverend Jill Stellman officiating. Burial will take place in Burlington Flats Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may be made with donations to the American Heart Association or American Alzheimer's Association. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.