Jean Welch Smith

Jean W. Smith of Worton, Maryland passed away on February 9th, 2025, at the age of 96. Born April 1st, 1928, to the late Frank S. and Grace W. Welch, Jean reveled in having her birthday on April Fool’s Day. Friends and family alike would thoroughly enjoy helping her to celebrate her special day with a prank or joke that would keep her laughing for years to come. In the mid 1940’s, she began her nursing career at what was then known as the Kent and Queen Anne’s Hospital. She worked during the era of her father-in-law, the late Dr. Frank W. Smith, who co-founded the hospital in 1935. It is while there, she met her future husband, Calvin C. Smith Sr, when he was a patient. They were married on April 8th, 1950, and shared 56 years together before his death in 2006. Jean left nursing to raise her family, dedicating herself to her children and volunteering with activities related to them. The most notable were the Junior Choir Mother for St Paul’s Episcopal Church and Den Mother for the Boy Scouts. In the years that followed, she returned to the Kent and Queen Anne’s Hospital but this time as a member of the Auxiliary Board where she held many positions. For many years, she enjoyed the position of Volunteer Coordinator for the hospital. She spent countless hours getting volunteer coverage for all shifts while delighting in being a volunteer herself. Over the years, she took pleasure in being a Gray Lady for the American Red Cross, a Weight Watchers Speaker, a member of the Women’s League of Washington College, a member of Lauriette Chi Sorority of Beta Phi Epsilon and a volunteer for the United Way. She deeply appreciated the collection and studying of antiques that would eventually lead her down the path of joining with a few close friends to found Cadwalader of Kent Questers, the first of such groups in the region. Her admiration and collection of antiques was also carried out by her membership in the American Antiques Art Association. While she enjoyed holding many positions in these groups, planning activities and securing guest speakers brought her the most joy over the years. She will be remembered for her uncanny ability to always look for the positive side in life, “to make the best out of any situation.” Her natural amiability found her with friends wherever she went. Her zest for life was evidenced when she was surrounded by her many “Friday Lunch Bunch Friends”, a group of friends she gathered with for many years, to meet at different locations throughout the area. Their laughter filled the restaurants wherever they decided to meet. While she had quite an active life with all of the organizations she was affiliated with over the years, her truest passion was her family. She was not only a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, she was also a steadfast best friend. She will live on in the hearts and minds of all those she has left behind. She is survived by her daughter, Roberta S. Rengarts (Andrew), her son, Calvin C. Smith Jr (Cheryl), grandson Nicholas Smith-Rengarts (Jayme), granddaughters Erin McArdle (Andrew), Karmin Smith, Sarah Sutton (Ryan) along with great grandchildren Gene Rengarts, Owen Sutton, Cole Sutton, Claire Sutton, Cadence Smith and Meghan McArdle. Funeral Service will be held on February 17th, 2025, 1:00 PM at St Paul’s Church, 7579 Sandy Bottom Road, Chestertown, MD 21620. Interment will be in St Paul’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Johns Hopkins Jeannette and Daniel Schapiro Geriatric Medical Education Fund in memory of Jean W. Smith. Donations may be made online (https://secure.jhu.edu/form/geriatrc) or via a check made out to Johns Hopkins Medicine. If you are donating by check, please include Schapiro Medical Ed. on the memo line and mail it to Johns Hopkins University and Medicine, Attn: Department of Medicine/Geriatric Medicine, PO Box 49143, Baltimore MD 21297-9143.

Jean Welch Smith

April 1, 1928 - February 9, 2025