Obituary of Holly Jill Smith

On May 24th, Holly Jill Smith was a young, vibrant woman in the middle of the doings of her life: spending time with her husband, Anton; doting on her furry children, Charlie, Oliver, Zoë, and Pip; planning the subject of her next work of art (painting a dogwood tree); plotting the next addition to her garden (a wisteria); and tearing down and rebuilding the rock wall in front of her spectacular and well-loved home – a home largely constructed with her own two hands. It was a shock to all who loved her that she didn’t wake up on May 25th. All around us are signs of a life in progress. People who met Holly on the street were confronted with a Botticelli come to life: long, auburn curls, an angelic face, and an overall delicate appearance that belied her very real physical strength. Her tiny waist contradicted the joyful, robust belly laugh that delighted all who knew her. This boisterous energy was applied to every aspect of Holly’s life; every task was an aesthetic masterpiece, a “thing worth doing well done.” Holly was a true intellect who cared deeply about egalitarian issues and animal welfare. Her artistic sensibilities were shaped early on by her mother, Nancy, and her reverence for nature emerged during long, joyful summers with her grandmother, Cleo. Her sister, Joy, remembers a loving little girl with uncanny sensitivity to beauty. Holly gave all of her beautiful spirit to all that she did. Service Information