Irene Smith Saffell

Irene Smith Saffell of St. James City, FL, and formerly of Kent Island, MD, died on Friday December 27, 2019, at Select Care Hospital in Fort Myers, FL. She was 94. Born of June 28, 1925, in Centreville, MD, to the late Jack Bishop and Stella Davis, she attended Centreville High School, graduating Class of 1942. In June of 1942, she married James D. Smith, and the following year moved to Miami Beach, FL. After her husband returned home from the military, they moved back to Maryland. She remained home to care for the family and in the 1950’s began attending business college. In 1953, she began working at Lipton Tea and, in 1958, with the Leaver Brothers. After years with Leaver Brothers, she took a bookkeeping position with United Shellfish in 1961. That same year, she and her family moved to Kent Island. After 14 years, she opened Captain Jim’s Restaurant in Queenstown, MD. In 1980, her husband, James, passed away. In November of 1982, Irene married Elmer Saffell and resided on Kent Island. They became very active in boating and later made their home in Fenwick, DE, and in 2002 in Florida. He predeceased her in 2007. Irene was very active in her communities. She was past president of the Women’s Auxiliary of the VFW #7464 in Grasonville, MD, where she received her 10 year medal; was past president of Kent Island Yacht Club; charter member of Bay County Moose Lodge in Queenstown, MD; member of the Kent Island American Legion Post #278; appointed to the board of Social Services for Queen Anne’s County for six years; and was elected to the Democratic Central Committee throughout the 1970’s and into the 1980’s. While residing in Florida, she was an active in the Red Hat Society and St. James Hobby Club, serving as a past president and five terms as treasurer. She also enjoyed line dancing and playing cards with friends. She is survived by two children, Diane Ruth (Jeff) and Ronald Smith (Carol); nine grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Her son, James Smith, predeceased her, as did her brother, Frank Morris, and sister, Betty Sietsma. A visitation will be held on Friday January 3, 2020, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Fellows, Helfenbein & Newnam Funeral Home, 106 Shamrock Road Chester, MD, where a funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2020, at 11a.m. Burial will follow the service in Woodlawn Memorial Park in Easton, MD. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005 or Compass Regional Hospice, 160 Coursevall Drive, Centreville, MD 21617.

Irene Smith Saffell

June 28, 1925 - December 27, 2019