Eleanor (Griffin) Smith

Eleanor Griffin Smith, 93, of Port Charlotte, Florida passed away Thursday, February 17th, 2022 at Sarasota  Memorial Hospital in Sarasota FL.

She was born February 12th, 1929 to William and Helen (Rowley) Griffin in Winsted, Ct. and grew up in Meriden, CT. She was a graduate of St. Agnes School of Nursing and enjoyed working in pediatrics. She also enjoyed being a Girl Scout Leader, teaching religious education with her children, and bookkeeping at her husband’s business, Tip Top Television on Park Road in West Hartford, CT. Ellie enjoyed spending summers with her husband and children in Winsted at their summer home on Highland Lake, creating many happy memories. She also enjoyed many friends in the knitting group at St. Peter Claver Church in West Hartford and her trips to Arcadia, FL with the Outreach Society of St. Maximillian Kolbe Catholic Church in Port Charlotte. After retirement, she and Skip enjoyed several trips around our beautiful country, visiting all fifty states, Canada and Mexico. In 2006 she and Skippy made Port Charlotte, FL their permanent home where she made many close friends.

Eleanor is survived by her children Marilee (Allan) Dabkowski of Middlebury, Maggie (Edward) Furstein of Port Charlotte, FL, grandchildren Brian (Stacey) Dabkowski, Paul (Angela) Dabkowski, Lauren Dabkowski, Danielle (AJ) Papendick, Kelly and Sandy Smith, 

Amy and Ashley Furstein, great grandchildren Kayla and Kaiya Cullen, Trace, Phoenix and Pixie Rose Trafton, Harley Walczak, Joseph and Theodore Dabkowski, Dante Arroyo,  Emanuel Sepulveda, her Godson, Toby O’Brien, and several nieces and nephews whom she adored. Eleanor was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Norman “Skippy” Smith Sr., her sons, Norman T. Smith Jr. and Peter Ernest Smith, sisters Jean O’Brien and Anne Hansen, niece, Linda Hansen and nephew, David Hansen.

Arrangements- A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday May 14th at 11: 00 A.M. at St. Peter Claver Church, 47 Pleasant Street in West Hartford. Burial will follow in Fairview Cemetery, West Hartford. Family and friends are asked to meet directly at church. Reception to follow burial at the Parish Hall. Local arrangements entrusted to Naugatuck Valley Memorial/ Fitzgerald Zembruski Funeral Home, 240 North Main Street, Naugatuck Ct. 06770.

Contributions: Carolyn’s Place, 137 Grandview Avenue, Waterbury Ct. 06708 or Peace River Wildlife Center, 3400 Ponce De Leone Parkway, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.  To send send an online condolence please visit www.naugatuckvalleymemorial.com.  

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