Obituary: Joanne Smith, 59, Of South Windsor

SOUTH WINDSOR, CT - Joanne “Jody” (Baur) Smith, 59, of South Windsor, beloved wife of Gregory I. Smith, died on Tuesday, November 20, 2018 at home in the presence of her family. She was born on March 14, 1959 in Meriden, CT, the daughter of Agnes (Kokoska) Baur and the late David Irving Baur.

Jody grew up on Parkside Terrace, graduating from Maloney High School in 1977. She received an undergraduate degree from Connecticut College and later obtained a master’s from St. Joseph’s College. She was a special education teacher with a passion for educating children. Jody lived in Alaska for several years where she developed and ran a teaching home for individuals with special needs before returning to Connecticut.

She then taught at CREC: River Street Early Learning Center and in the Ellington Public School system, brightening the lives of many students. She also enjoyed reading and gardening, and loved spending time with her family, most especially her granddaughter.

She also enjoyed traveling to destinations such as the Grand Canyon, Santa Barbara, North Conway, Japan, and England. Along with her mother Agnes and her husband Greg, to whom she was married for 37 years, she leaves her sons Matthew, Andrew, and Ben Smith of South Windsor; her brother, Donald Baur, his wife Phebe Jensch, and their son Christopher of Alexandria, VA; her sister, Ellen Satagaj of Meriden; her granddaughter, Kirra Smith; and her sisters-in-law, Kimberly Gregoire of Southington and Betsy Miller of Gilboa, NY.

Her family will receive friends on Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the Samsel & Carmon Funeral Home, 419 Buckland Rd., South Windsor. A Memorial Service will follow at 5:30 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be privateat the request of her family. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made by check to “CREC River Street School” noting “Playground Fund” in the memo and sent to 601 River Street in Windsor, CT 06095. Please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com for online condolences.