Stephanie Louise Smith completed her life’s journey on December 23, 2011 in her 62nd year. She passed away at Vancouver General Hospital after bravely striving against a profound illness.
Stephanie was born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. She trained and worked as a Dental Therapist and her patients loved her gentle touch.
In 1979, following a vacation to the U.S.A., she made a brief stop-over in Hawaii where she met the love of her life, Richard Norman Smith, who also happened to be vacationing there. This serendipitous meeting resulted in a beautiful thirty-three year relationship. Stephanie left the hot beaches of Adelaide that she loved for the cold climates of Revelstoke, Rick and Stephanie’s home for eighteen years. Thirteen years ago they moved to Chilliwack. Stephanie was an intelligent woman with a quick wit. Practical and wise, she was a voracious reader and an avid gardener. Stephanie loved animals and volunteered with several animal rescue groups.
Stephanie is survived by her loving husband, Rick, and her parents Yvonne and Dennis Gray, her brother, Michael Gray and sisters, Lisa Gray and Shauna (Bruce) Wynne, nieces Sera Gray, and Reneé and Jessie Robinson in Australia.
Special thanks to the staff at Chilliwack General Hospital and the teams at Vancouver General Hospital Intensive Care Unit. A celebration of her life will be held at Rick and Stephanie’s home at 7332 Marble Hill Road, Chilliwack, on Saturday, January 14th between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to an animal rescue shelter of your choice.