Elizabeth Smith

Elizabeth Smith died on November 3, 2018, surrounded by family after declining health in recent months. She was born in Niedergé�sgen, Switzerland on February 12, 1926 to Karl and Jeanne Bircher. She spent her childhood in Aarau before her family moved to Zé�rich, where she graduated from nursing school. In 1950, with the intention of staying just a few years, she came to the U.S. on the Queen Mary, to help friends in Indiana with their newborn.

Later that year she began work as a pediatric nurse at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in Illinois, where she met Dean Smith, a Northwestern University medical student. They were married in 1951, and spent nearly 66 years together living first in Chicago, then Cleveland and finally in Madison where Dean established his surgical practice in 1957. Her given name was Elsbeth, which she Americanized to Elizabeth. She became a naturalized citizen in 1959.

She was preceded in death by her husband Dean; her parents; her brother Pete; and sister Susi. She is survived by her daughters Christine (Tom) Vickerman of Waukesha, WI and Teresa (Greg) Barlow of Golden Valley, MN; and son Garrick (Martina) Smith of Sché�nenberg, Switzerland. She is also survived by 9 grandchildren: Erica, Brian (Gretchen), Kevin (Elizabeth) and Philip Barlow; Brett and Carly Vickerman; Ellie, Dylan, and Tyler Smith; step great-granddaughter Ainsley and her rescue dog Ryder.

She loved nature; enjoyed nothing more than walking her dogs, and was a familiar sight in the Faircrest/Parkwood Hills area. She and Dean enjoyed the companionship of 8 German Shepherds during their life together. She fed birds, feral cats, and squirrels daily and delighted at seeing a new type of bird at her feeders. She once rescued and raised a newborn sparrow that bonded with her, landed on her shoulder, and stayed around a couple of years to raise his young.

She loved to read, could play both piano and button accordion, and outfitted her grandchildren in beautiful hand and machine knit clothing! Being raised in Switzerland, she was fluent in German and French, which came in handy when her children needed tutoring! She loved going to American Players Theatre and concerts at the Overture Center.

She and Dean enjoyed several trips to Switzerland to share time with her family and friends. In both 1994 and 1998, the entire family including all grandchildren enjoyed 3 special weeks together exploring Switzerland.

The last several years were difficult for her due to chronic back pain and dizziness, preventing her from being able to walk her dogs, a loss she felt deeply.

She moved May 15, 2017 to Golden Valley, MN to a retirement community shortly after Dean's death on April 30, 2017. She enjoyed being close to Terry and her family but missed her husband, beloved home on Driftwood Ave., and Madison. She had a wonderful summer this year and enjoyed time with all of her children and grandchildren at the family cabin on Grindstone Lake in Hayward, WI.

She was kind, compassionate and treasured her family. We all loved and cherished her and will miss her dearly.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, November 17th for Elizabeth and Dean at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison from 2-4 pm. Their legacy will live on as the family continues to share summers together on Grindstone Lake.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Dane County Humane Society.

Cress Funeral and Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Rd, Madison
608-238-3434