Thursa Smiley

THURSA RUTH VAN ARKEL SMILEY, age 95, one of nine children, was born Nov. 6, 1917 in Twin Brooks, South Dakota to Henry and Jennie Lorrianna Carson Van Arkel. At age two her family moved to Freeville, NY. A 1935 graduate of Dryden High School, Thursa worked at The Home dairy in Ithaca, NY and after her husband, Roland Smiley died in 1960, worked at the Dryden Central School Cafeteria until 1980

.Thursa lived independently in her home with the help of her surviving twins: son, Jim (Deb) Smiley, Sr., daughter, Jean Smiley until September 5, 2012 when she was admitted to the hospital and shortly thereafter to the Groton Nursing Facility.

Also surviving are her daughters, Marjorie (Bill) Mau, Cortland, Sonja Fitts Howe of Kingston, NY and Betty Ann Fitts (Bill) Enders as well as grandchildren, J.J. (Amy), Shannon (Jeff), Chantel (Mark), David, Shelly (Clint), Mike (Mary), Chris, Kevin (Rocky); great-grandchildren, C.J., Nick, Nate, Kennedy, Owen, Katie (George), Ali and Ronni; great great-grandchildren, Gavin, Liam and Jamison; a brother, Elmer (Bea Raponi) Van Arkel of Brooktondale; a sister, Dorothy Boothroyd of Florida; a brother-in-law, Robert Hughes; a niece, Eleanor Day and several other nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother and sisters: Earl, Grace, Irene, Bessie, Wanda and Mabel.Thursa enjoyed cooking and canning, making Chili sauce, chicken & biscuits and pies, Little League ballgames, youth hockey games, the World Series, “Cutting up deer”, television, Lawrence Welk, Daniel O’Donnell and nature shows, Friday night suppers and luncheons. She also enjoyed feeding wild birds and squirrels in the winter as well as turkeys, pheasants, deer, raccoons, a few skunks and stray kitties, Lilacs in the springtime, roses, peonies and her favorite carnations. Our family wishes to give special thanks to Drs. Weston, Murray, Lemburg and Clark as well as the 4th floor team of Sheldon, Dave and Bill and the aides and nurses at CMC. Also thanks to everyone at the Groton Nursing Facility.

Services for Thursa are private with burial n Willow Glen Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Memorials are directed to the Charity of one’s choice or to Varna Fire Dept. Rescue Squad, Dryden Ambulance Fund or Hospicare. Perkins Funeral home is assisting the family.

THURSA RUTH VAN ARKEL SMILEY , age 95, one of nine children, was born Nov. 6, 1917 in Twin Brooks, South Dakota to Henry and Jennie Lorrianna Carson Van Arkel. At age two her family moved to Freeville, NY. A 1935 graduate of Dryden High School, Thursa worked at The Home dairy in Ithaca, NY and after her husband, Roland Smiley died in 1960, worked at the Dryden Central School Cafeteria until 1980