Rose D. (Fuller) Smith

Tampa / Ware - Rose Dorothy Smith passed away on July 28, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. Dorothy “Dot” was the loving wife of the late Norman A. Smith “Smitty” of Elmira, NY.

Born in Bermuda, Dorothy was the daughter of the late Henry and Patience Louise Fuller of Devonshire, BDA. Dorothy was a loving and devoted wife and mother. She and her husband Norman retired to Ware, MA in 1976 after his retirement from the United States Air Force.

Dorothy’s passion was teaching swimming; she was the former Director of The Red Cross Swimming Program at Sheppard Air Force Base, TX. Dorothy taught children and adults swimming lessons in her Ware, MA backyard pool.

Moving to West Brookfield, MA after her husband’s passing, Dorothy became a CNA and for ten years volunteered at Ware Elementary School as a first grade aide for Mrs. Desjardin’s classroom.

Dorothy is survived by her children Linda (Roberto) Dematte of Ware, MA, Karen (Robert) McNabb of Tampa, FL and Chris (Yvonne) Smith of West Brookfield, MA; grandchildren Devon McNabb, Jeremy Smith, Sarah Smith, Damian Dematte, Dominic Dematte, Ashley McNabb, and Rachel Dematte; great grandchildren Alexander, Riley, Jayda, and Lola; brother-in-law Donald Slessler of Belchertown, MA and nieces and nephews; Alan Slessler, Donna Lafleur, Lori Leclerc, Marla Hess, Mark Slessler and their children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her loving husband Smitty, sisters Mary Kemp of Bermuda and Phyllis Slessler of Belchertown, MA.

The Funeral Service will be held on August 4, 2018 at 10:30 AM in the Varnum Funeral Home, Inc., 43 East Main Street, West Brookfield, with interment at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Ware.  The visitation hours will be from 9:30-10:30 AM in Varnum Funeral Home, Inc. prior to the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dorothy’s name to support Mrs. Desjardin’s DonorsChoose Classroom Project (Stanley M. Koziol Elementary School Ware, MA).  The project link is as follows:  https://www.donorschoose.org/project/technology-inspiring-young-learners/3365147/

An online guest book is available at varnumfuneralhome.com

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