Obituary of Judith Ann Smiley

Smiley, Judith Ann – 84, Port Dufferin, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on November 23, 2024, in Harbourview Lodge, Sheet Harbour. Born in Watt Section on August 21, 1940, she was the eldest daughter of the late Bill and Helen (Rutledge) Henley. Nanny Judy started her career with the Bank of Nova Scotia in Sheet Harbour then moving on to becoming Postmaster in Port Dufferin, operating from her home. Upon the Post Office closing, she opened the Three Ladies Craft and Gift Shop, she then moved on to Life insurance sales, along with being a Probation Officer. In 1988, Nanny was voted in as County Councillor for District 11, one of her finest accomplishments. All the while, messing up her kitchen and the trunk of her car while making, decorating, and transporting hundreds of cakes. Also, within the mix, she was a go-to for everything, from being an emcee at many functions, to writing wills, power of attorneys and doing income tax for people along the Eastern Shore. One of the most selfless things that Nanny did was take on the role of primary caregiver for her mother, with support of all her siblings for five years. In keeping with Judy fashion, she was also a lifelong member of the Progressive Conservative Party, she worked in Peter MacKay’s satellite office in Sheet Harbour. Nanny Judy had so many accomplishments over the years, we could never list them all, but she was so proud to arrange the first Terry Fox run in Sheet Harbour in 1981.She was the first president of the Nova Scotia Caregivers Association. She hosted a tea party in Port Dufferin to introduce Mila Mulroney, wife of Brian Mulroney who ran in Central Nova District to win a seat to run in the Federal Election, to which he became Prime Minister. She was a member of the Sheet Harbour Lioness Club, Catholic Women’s League, Canadian Cancer Society, Gerald Hardy Memorial Society and many more. Nanny’s last big accomplishment was becoming a Commissioner of Oaths and Justice of the Peace for Nova Scotia. Nanny was such an icon for Sheet Harbour and the Eastern Shore, all the while still fulfilling her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother - so talented, so thoughtful and so involved. Survived by her devoted husband of 64 years, Bernie Smiley, daughter; Lynn (Jerry) Hawes, son; Bernard (Tanya) Smiley, grandchildren; Michelle Hawes (Jamie), Jerrilyn (Blake) MacCarthy, Justin (Mallory) Hawes and Janine Hawes. Great-grandchildren; John, Brett and Katelyn Boyd, Brantley and Bennett MacCarthy, Aulie and Orin Hawes, brother; Howard (Patty) Henley, sisters; Angie (Terry) Havlik, Janice (Michael) Christie, Sue Henley, sisters-in-law; Louise Smiley, Susan (Alton) Whynott, Leslie Henley, Lily Kenney (Shannon), Joanie Holman, Anne Holman (Tom), Barb Henley, brothers-in-law; Gary Verge, Ray (Barb) Smiley and many beloved nieces and nephews. Predeceased by parents Bill and Helen Henley; the best mother in-law in the world Mary Smiley; sisters Sandra Verge and Karen Wheaton; brothers Wayne, Gary, and Greg; sisters-in-law; June Smiley, Donna Henley; brothers-in-law; Ken Smiley, Edgar Smiley, Eric Kenney, Carl Holman, and Barry Holman. Cremation has taken place, there will be no funeral service. Visitation will be held at Crowell’s Funeral Home in Sheet Harbour on Thursday November 28th from 6-9pm. We will be celebrating Nanny’s precious life at the Henley House at a later date. We would like to send a sincere thank you to Dr. MacDonald the staff at Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital and Harbourview Lodge for the excellent care that she received over the last 4 years. Donations can be made in Nanny’s honour to the Gerald Hardy Memorial Society.