Obituary of Doris Smith

SMITH, Doris Clayton (nee Stelling) age 94 of Wyckoff passed away peacefully on Friday, May 3, 2013. She joins her beloved husband Carlos "Smitty" Smith and her beloved son Charles Clayton. She was graduated from Ridgefield Park High School and attended the American University. Early in her career she worked at the national headquarters of the United Lutheran Church in America in New York City. The greater part of her working life was in public school administration. Her last employer was the Dumont Board of Education. Both she and Smitty were lifelong devoted Lutherans. They were quite active in their local church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Dumont. Doris took particular pride in being able to give communion to shut-ins. She was highly sensitive to the needs and disabilities of others. For many years she worked with the Lutheran Braille Workers, Inc. The loves of her life, apart from the Church, her husband and son were animals, playing games and the New York Yankees. Her father had been one of the pallbears for Lou Gehrig. Doris had a genuine love of and concern for her fellow human beings. Using her inner charm and sweetness of disposition, she had a way of making anyone she met as feeling uniquely special. She is survived by her daughter-in-law, Susan Clayton and her daughter Emily of Brooklyn, NY and her step-children, Carlos Smith, Scott Smith and Susan Hoxley. A memorial service and Celebration of the Resurrection will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 10:30 AM at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, (201-387-6464) 344 Washington Avenue, Dumont, NJ. The Rev. Peggy Hayes, Pastor. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. Arrangements by the Vander Plaat Funeral Home of Wyckoff (www.vpfh.com).