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Stephentown – Rev. Astrid Park Smith, 91, died peacefully on Thursday, September 26, 2013, at her home in Stephentown, NY. Born in Puhajoki, Finland, on January 15, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Elias Ilmari and Fanni Wiirrett Park. When she was one her family emigrated to the United States and settled in Brooklyn, NY, and later moved to Long Island, NY. Astrid graduated from Mepham High School in North Bellmore, NY, and later attended Eastern Nazarean College in Quincy, MA, where she studied theology and met her husband.
Astrid was called to be a minister by God and assisted her husband, Rev. Ernest D. Smith, at assignments at various churches in Jackman, Farmington Falls and Strong, ME. At the age of 59, Rev. Smith was ordained a minister and served at the Second Congregational Church in Williamstown, MA. In 1965, she moved to Dalton, MA, where she and her husband started the Berkshire First Church of the Nazarean. Throughout her life, Rev. Smith led a consistent Christian devotional life. She was saved and sanctified. Astrid was a wonderful mother and was very talented as a watercolor artist and painter. In 1988 she moved to Stephentown and was a member of the Hill & Valley Women’s Club in New Lebanon, NY.
She was the beloved wife of 70 years of Rev. Ernest D. Smith, loving mother of Brenda Lee Christiana of Stephentown, David Ernest and wife Bonnie Smith of Peru, MA, Janice Evelyn and husband Calvin Letson of Jackson, GA, Stephen A. Smith of Stephentown and Philip D. Smith and Jennifer LeBlanc of Leicester, VT, grandmother of Mark, Lisa, Joshua, Jadrian, Annette, Andrea, Ashley, Ariel, Melanie, Nathaniel and Cherie. She had 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She was the sister of Merriam Williams of Minnesota and the late Ellen, Irene and Martha, the sister-in-law of Wilma, Dorothy, Elizabeth and the late Keith Smith.
The funeral service was Monday, September 30, at 3 pm at the Berkshire First Church of the Nazarean in Dalton. Friends called at the Church from 2 to 3 pm. The interment was Tuesday at the Maplewood Cemetery in Fairfield, ME.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Berkshire First Church of the Nazarean, 165 North Street, Dalton, MA, 01226, or to the Pilgrim Holiness Church, 421 Elm Street, Pittsfield, MA, 01201. Arrangements are by the Hall & Higgins Funeral Home in Stephentown.