Marie Lisette Smith

August 24, 1943 - March 5, 2021

COLEBROOK, NH — Marie L. Smith, 77, of Colebrook, passed away peacefully at her home on March 5, 2021, surrounded by her loving family. After a long courageous battle with declining health, she is once again dancing with the love of her life. Marie, also known as Lisette, was born in Dixville, Que., Canada, on Aug. 24, 1943, the daughter of Denis and Annette (LaRoche) Caouette. As a child, she and her family moved to a farm in Bungy where she grew up with siblings and many neighborhood friends. She attended Our Lady of Grace and later graduated from Colebrook Academy in 1961. In 1960 she met the love of her life, Jim, and they married May 12, 1962. They started a family, bought an old farm on Roaring Brook Road, and began rebuilding it. She, Jim, and their young children, built a new barn, filled it with cows and began shipping milk, continuing throughout the early 80s. Marie worked hard caring for her family, as well as working many jobs over the years. Along with their life on the farm, Marie worked in childcare at The Balsams Wilderness Ski Resort and Hotel. She then worked at Manchester Manufacturing, the “Redwood” (currently Diamond Peaks) on Route 26 and was then a Title One Paraprofessional at Colebrook Elementary School. She was best known for her near 30 years of employment at the First Colebrook Bank where she started as a teller, and with her dedication and hard work became the corporate secretary to the board of directors and the executive secretary to the president. Marie was active in her community, volunteering her time to various organizations. She was involved with the Moose Festival and Moose Stew Cook-Off and was director and treasurer of Helping Hands for many years. Marie’s gentle hands worked so hard over the years; gardening flowers and vegetables, baking endlessly for family and friends, sewing everything from her children’s clothes to quilts and wedding gowns...there was nothing she could not create. Even though her hands were cracked from farm life, they remained soft and gentle, filled with a mother’s and nana’s love. Nana never missed the special moments of her grandchildren’s lives. She loved planning and hosting family parties, and holidays, taking pride in making each gift unique with her own special touch. She and Jim enjoyed hosting their annual clam bakes, boating and fishing together on lakes like Umbagog and visiting the coast of Maine. Marie and Jim will always be remembered for their love of dancing; the smiles on their faces said it all. Marie leaves behind her loving family including, two sons, Daniel Smith and his wife Jodi of Colebrook, and Budd Smith of West Burke, Vt.; two daughters, Beverly White of Colebrook and Donna Stone and husband Greg of Colebrook; as well as many grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, two sisters, Diane Westmoreland and her husband Gary of California and Annemarie Crawford and husband Donald of Burlington Vt., as well as a wide circle of extended family members and friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her husband Jim in 2018, infant twin daughters, Ann and Amy, a brother, Gilles of Canaan, Vt. and a young sister, Nicole. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mrs. Smith can be made to Helping Hands North, Inc., 96 Main Street, Colebrook, NH 03576. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, March. 13, 2021, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing guidelines will be observed and facial coverings are required to enter the funeral home. A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 3rd, 2021, at the Colebrook Village Cemetery with a Celebration of Life at Mohawk Falls to follow. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins, & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.