Of Guelph, passed away at Riverside Glen on Sunday, February 14 2021, in her 87th year.
Predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Gordon Albert Smith. Loving mother of Carl Smith (Brenda) of Guelph, Linda Rock (Mike) of Brandon, Manitoba, and Rev. Greg Smith (Sheree Anderson) of Kitchener. Proud grandmother of Jennifer (Adam), Christine (James), Valerie (Steve), Jason (Erin), Jordan (Nicole), and Emily and great grandmother of Liam, Emma, Hunter, Audrey, Madison, Peyton, Mason, Catherine, Scott, Paisley, Brighton, Lennon, Archer and Lucas. Predeceased by her parents, Edgar and Velma Lasby, her sisters, Viola Hood and Susan Sinclair, and her brother, Ron Lasby. Survived by her sister, Marilyn McDonald (Les) of Guelph and Brian Sinclair of Acton. Fondly remembered by her nieces and nephews and by Marion Stead of Toronto, Jim Smith (Gloria) of Flesherton and many other relations and friends.
Clara Mae Lasby was born in a farmhouse on the 5th Line of Eramosa Township. While still young, her family moved to Guelph, first living on Stevenson Street and then, for many years, on Menzie Avenue. Mae had fond memories of childhood trips accompanying her dad when he was driving truck and of summer holidays at her grandma Nancy's house in West Montrose.
As a young woman, Mae loved music, radio and motion pictures. She studied several grade levels of piano and also played the Hawaiian slide guitar. She spent many hours listening to radio serials and attending the movies, often sitting through the feature twice. She was especially fond of the singing cowboy films with stars such as Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. One of her first jobs was working at a bakery in downtown Guelph. She and a friend would often finish work, buy a donut from the shop, and head straight to the movies. She also worked briefly at the Guelph Drive-in Movie Theatre located on the corner of Stevenson and Speedvale and at the Bank of Montreal.
Mae met Gord at a United Co-op Valentine's dance, held in the dancehall above Ryan's Department Store. They were married a few months later, in October, 1953. Mae was devoted to her family and loved seeing her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was skilled at knitting and crocheting. She was the household manager and kept the books for Gord's part-time business.
Faith was an important part of Mae's life. She attended York Road Baptist Church for a time because she enjoyed the preaching and music, but later joined St. Paul's Presbyterian because she didn't like the idea of giving up dancing. She was an original member of Westminster-St. Paul's, when that new church was founded in 1959.
Mae was a genealogist. She assembled a significant number of records, photos and facts related to her extended family. This was done before the easy access to data that we now enjoy, and Mae gave a great deal of time to phone calls, letter writing, physical research and records requests. Much of this material went into a book of her family's history, "The Lasby Family in Europe and America".
Mae spent her final years at Riverside Glen where her bright and pleasant personality was always welcome. She and Gord continued to see each other every day until his death two years ago. For all the years they were together, they still showed the same love they had for each other when they first met. The family would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to the nurses, support workers and staff of the Eramosa Neighbourhood, Riverside Glen, and to Dr. Lisa Friars.
Mae's family will remember her with a private visitation and committal service. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer Society Waterloo-Wellington or to SOS Children's Villages Canada.
A tree will be planted in memory of C. Mae Smith in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.