Born 24 October 1931, Coaticook, QC. Died peacefully surrounded by family at Hospice Wellington in Guelph, 26 September 2024.
Stuart was a loving, kind, and patient husband, father, grandpa, and poppa. Friends and family will miss his sense of humour, love of a good pun, generosity, and gentle nature.
He will be deeply missed by his wife of over 50 years, Earla; his son, Jeffrey Stuart (Jeff); daughter-in-law, Bo (Cheyne); grandsons, Talvin and Connor; sister Mary (Ellis) of Brantford, ON; son David of Portugal; daughter-in-law, Eliane (Castro); and grandsons, Mateus and Arthur. He is predeceased by his siblings Christina (Betcke), Donald, and Richard. Also left to mourn him are six nieces who so loved their Uncle Stuart. His many friends will miss his genuine, kind, and gracious manners.
Stuart trained as a naval bandsman in the 1950’s and both his life and his home were filled with jazz and classical music. After having lived in Sherbrooke and Lennoxville, QC, the family moved to Ontario in 1983. Stuart played lead clarinet in the Waterloo Concert Band, sang in several choirs, including St. George’s of Forest Hill Parish Choir in Kitchener and the Chantry Singers in Southampton, ON. He particularly enjoyed time at the cottage in Southampton which led him and Earla to make the decision to move there in 2004. Stu started a business that he nurtured fondly – an upscale haven for backyard birders and pet owners: Paws and Tweets Boutique. Some years later, they returned to the K-W area and Guelph to be near family.
A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, 3 October 2024 at St. George’s Anglican Church, 99 Woolwich St, Guelph. A reception will follow at the church. Arrangements entrusted to the WALL-CUSTANCE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL 519-822-0051 / www.wallcustance.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Wellington in Stuart’s memory.
A tree will be planted in memory of W. Stuart Smith in the Wall-Custance Memorial Forest.