Geraldine D. Smith

SUTTON – Geraldine Delores (Spinney) Smith, 94, died Monday, November 2, 2026, at the St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing center in Worcester.

She was predeceased by her husband of 48 years, Donald F. Smith who died in 1999. Handholding high school sweethearts, Gerry and Smitty, or “Smyttie” as he signed his valentines to her, were the love, light, and laughter in each other’s lives and the example set for their children to follow. Gerry is survived by five children and four of their spouses whom she adored, Deborah J. and Philip Trapasso, of Grafton, Susan S. Briody of Charlton, Pamela G. and Michael Perry of Oxford, Christopher A. and Paula Smith of Dudley, and Douglas W. and Alexandra Smith of Dudley; 12 grandchildren, Peter Trapasso, Joyce Trapasso, Julie Grady, John Briody, Bridget Joiner, Kristin DeGray, Adam Perry, Robert Smith, Gregory Smith, Lauren Roche, Nicole Smith, and Austin Smith, 11 great-grandchildren, Vanessa and Victoria Trapasso, Daniel, Jake and Jemma Feeley, Justin and Brody Grady, Katie and Thomas Joiner, Ethan Beyer, Smith and Perry DeGray, Nola and Alivia Perry, Lucca and Niko Smith, and Callum Roche, 2 nephews, James Cameron and Stephen Spinney, and 2 nieces, Priscilla Mathurin and Karin Winsky. She was predeceased by her brother, Philip K. Spinney, and her son-in-law, Hugh T. Briody, both passing in 2017.

Born in Webster, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth E. and Mayfred D. (Crocker) Spinney, who emigrated from Harmony, Nova Scotia, and lived in Oxford before moving to Sutton in 1965. She graduated from Oxford High School in 1950, and then graduated from Salter Secretarial School in Worcester, from where she was recruited by the CIA. This may be surprising news to everyone who knew Gerry, but it demonstrates her ability to keep confidences, prioritize integrity, have absolute trustworthiness, emotional resilience, and sound judgment, which of course she needed to bear five children in six years by the time she was 27 and keep her sanity intact. Six months into her stint in D.C., Smitty, suspicious of the smart sneaky suits in the CIA, proposed to Gerry and they married in October 1951 at the First Congregational Church, Oxford, where all their children were baptized. After a short honeymoon, they moved to the rustic, “kinda cute” travel trailer park that passed as family housing at Quonset Point Naval Air Station, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, where Smitty served as a Naval Aircraft Mechanic.

Gerry spent much of her life as a homemaker and manager, bread baker, and chief care giver for her home and family. She was a member of the First Congregational Church of Sutton, where she also worked as the Church Mouse (aka “secretary”) for 17 years. For many years, Gerry also had a sweet side job at Eaton Farm Confections, the former Eaton’s Dairy, across the street from her home of 65 years, where she was the accountant. She carried the alto section as she sang in the church choir for over 50 years and was the church pianist where she tickled the keys for Sunday School.

Oh how Gerry loved singing and was part of many choirs throughout her life, including church choirs in Oxford and Sutton. She also sang with the Sutton Serenaders and Heavenly Fusion. When their children were young, Gerry and Smitty traveled with her family around the country. They began their adventure in tents, of which some required intense survival skills like trench digging, and alternate ways to serve cold hot dogs, graduated to a travel trailer and eventually an RV. Gerry and Smitty then left home to live on the road for two years in the RV, returning only for Christmas because their kids coughed up the airfare. After completing this trip of a lifetime, they kept their retirement dreams alive by spending their summers in Nova Scotia, on Scots Bay and Cape Split on the Bay of Fundy, where the water disappeared from view at low tide and would creep back at a slow walk to greet the shore at high tide.

Gerry’s last couple years were spent at Saint Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center under the tender loving care of the nursing and exceptional caregiving staff of the fourth floor. Their loving respect and dignity made all the difference to Gerry’s family and friends.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at Paradis-Givner Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Worcester.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 101 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01604, or to any organization that supports dementia research.