Margaret E. Smith "Marge"

Margaret “Marge” E. (Close) Smith 86, of Plainville, MA passed away peacefully surrounded by her devoted six children on Sunday, September 8, 2024. She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph E. Smith Sr.

Marge was born in East Haven, CT on July 10, 1938, to the late George and Elizabeth (Kelly) Close. She and her 6 brothers and sisters were raised on Bradford Avenue in Momauguin, a part of East Haven, CT on the shore. She greatly enjoyed growing up in Momauguin and took an enormous amount of pride in being from there and often boasted to her children how she knew everyone’s name in Momauguin growing up. She was a proud graduate of Saint Mary’s in New Haven and often reflected on her high school years with boisterous laughter before telling you a story from those years. Marge had great stories and a great laugh. After graduating, Marge worked at SNET (Southern New England Telephone Company) until she married Joe at age 26 and was happily married for 54 years but together for over 65 years.

Upon getting married, Marge and Joe were quick to start a family and had 6 children in 8 years in New Jersey, Georgia, and Virginia before settling in Rhode Island for 20 years. Marge was not only a devoted mother to her children and family, but she also started a home daycare where she cared for many other children for 10 plus years. Everyone knew Marge. She was a proud Mom. Whatever needed to be done, she was able to make it happen. She could often be found in the kitchen making home cooked meals and baking everything from scratch. She was a great baker of cookies, breads, pies, cakes, and everything in between. She imparted her cooking and baking wisdom to all her kids and grandchildren.

When Marge retired, they moved to Massachusetts and greatly enjoyed 17 years of being snowbirds in Florida where they shared great times and laughs on Siesta Key Beach with their friends there. Siesta Key Beach was a special place for Marge and Joe as they loved the beach. They also enjoyed many cruises and trips in their retirement.

Marge was loved by all who knew her and were blessed to have known her. She had a great love and appreciation for family, faith, fun and friends and will be missed by all who knew her.

Marge is survived by her six loving children, Joseph Smith Jr. and wife Christine of Dedham, MA; Bill Smith and his wife Amy of Wakefield, RI; Charlene Butts and her husband Christian of Plainville, MA; Laura Dunberg and her husband Scott of Freehold, NJ; Debbie Baker and her husband Dave of Concord, MA and Kathleen Prettitore and her husband Russell of Middletown, NJ. She is also survived by her fourteen cherished grandchildren; Allie and her husband Peter, Sam and Nate Smith, Sarah, Matthew and Jules Butts, Paige and Chloe Dunberg, Grace and Kelsey Baker and Luke, Olivia, Julia and Trevor Prettitore; and devoted sisters, Maureen Guckin, Betty Backman and Georgeann Hajnal and her late brothers William, Gerard, and Robert Close and their families.

Relatives and friends are warmly welcome to attend visitation on Sunday, September 15, 2024, from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm in the “Memorial Chapel” of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro, MA.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, September 16, 2024, at 10:00 am at the Transfiguration of the Lord Parish at Saint Mary Church, 14 Park Street, North Attleboro, MA.

Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery and Arboretum, North Attleboro, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Margaret’s name can be made to her local YMCA where she enjoyed many classes and programs www.hockymca.org or mailed to 300 Elmwood Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760.

To send the family a written expression of sympathy, please visit an online guest book at www.dyer-lakefuneralhome.com .

Arrangements are under the direction of the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home, 161 Commonwealth Avenue, Village of Attleboro Falls, North Attleboro. (508) 695-0200