Marianne Blatt Smith, beloved wife of the late William Smith, died peacefully at home on March 30, 2018. She was born in Vienna, Austria on July 5, 1921, to the late Sonja and Hermann Blatt. She enjoyed a wonderful childhood, replete with all the fineries of a genteel Viennese upbringing. However, in November 1938, at the age of 17, she was sent by her parents, with one of the last issued visas, to Hamburg, Germany to be transported by ship to the United States, where her aunt and uncle had sponsored her arrival. While waiting in the rain to board, she met her future husband, the true love of her life, when he offered to share his umbrella. They married in New York City in 1941. She then completed her certificate of literacy and worked as a German-English translator for the U.S. government, while her husband returned to Germany to serve in the military intelligence of the U.S. Army, as an interrogator of prisoners of war. Following the war, they settled in Meriden, Connecticut in 1947, where the congregation of Temple B’nai Abraham (her husband served multiple terms as president years later) welcomed refugees. They immediately became involved in both the Jewish and secular communities. She dedicated herself to raising her children in a warm, loving, Jewish home and, together with her husband, instilled the ideal that with education and perseverance, any dream is attainable. She was a proud life member of Hadassah and served for many years on the Board of the synagogue’s Sisterhood. She volunteered tirelessly for both organizations in many capacities, including chairing multiple fund drives, and was still working in the synagogue library in her late 80’s. In addition, she was a regular volunteer for the local American Heart Association and American Cancer Society fund drives, as well as an active PTA volunteer. She was honored to be Hadassah’s Hand of Healing recipient in 1987, representing the Meriden chapter at a statewide reception. Her greatest joy was her family, and though she thought her life had ended when her husband died in 1989, she managed to immerse herself in her children and grandchildren’s lives and reveled in their successes. She is survived by her cherished daughters, Lorraine Ruth Smith and Evelyn Smith Firshein, M.D.; her adored son-in-law, Stephen Firshein, M.D.; and her precious grandchildren, Sarah Firshein and her husband Eric Gillin and Benjamin Firshein and his fiancé Jenah Shaibi. The family is eternally grateful to Julia Manu, Yvonne Johnson and Rachel Hansen, whose loving, considerate, compassionate care and companionship over the past several years enabled her to continue living in her home with dignity and grace and allowed her to continue participating in the many activities she enjoyed. In addition, the family would like to thank her physician, Dr. Benjamin Kahn, whose exceptional kindness, patience and professionalism were always very reassuring to her. Finally, the family would like to acknowledge the phenomenal staff of San Souci Restaurant, where she and Yvonne dined at her “reserved” table two to three times each week, and they would like to thank Linda and Nella of Le Page Hair Salon, which she also visited weekly. Funeral services were private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Kosher Food Pantry of Jewish Family Services, 333 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford, Conn. 06117.