Waltraut "Wallie" Smith

Waltraut “Wallie” Smith Of South Burlington, VT Waltraut (Wallie) Smith, 97, of South Burlington Vermont, formerly of Starrucca, Pennsylvania died peacefully in her sleep on March 23, 2022, at the Miller McClure Respite House in Colchester Vermont. She is predeceased by her children Margaret (Peggy) (Melillo) Wehr and Frank Melillo Jr; her late husbands Frank Melillo, Sr. and Clarence Smith; her parents Louise (Bosch) Fiegener, Wilhelm Fiegener; siblings Gertrude (Fiegener) Perry, William Fiegener, Louise (Fiegener) Rosenberry, Bertha (Fiegener) Croat, and Joseph Fiegener; and great-grandson Trey Griffis. Wallie is survived by her children Mary (Smith) Sisock (Mark), Theresa (Smith) Bracke (Robert); Sister AnnaMaria (Fiegener) Chiappa; Grandchildren Shawn Connolly and Erin (Connolly) Chatterson; great-grandchild Kailey Griffis; great-great-grandchild Remington Kirkendall; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. Born July 25, 1924, in Siegen, Germany, Wallie immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of five. She grew up in Manhattan. Even as a child, she was a fierce defender of her siblings and underdogs; never afraid to take on the bullies. She worked as a beautician in Manhattan until her family moved to North Plainfield NJ. There she met her first husband, Frank Melillo Sr. and started working for Ma Bell (AT&T) as a switchboard operator. They married in 1949 and had two children, Margaret (Peggy) and Frank. After the untimely death of her first husband, Wallie moved to Jackson township, PA where her parents had purchased a home. She met her second husband Clarence Smith at church there. After dating for a period with no overtures from him, she finally decided to propose! Wallie and Clarence married in 1963 and had more than 50 wonderful years together. They had two children – Mary and Theresa. Wallie spent many years devoted to homemaking and raising her children. But, when she was in her 50s, with the children mostly grown, she pursued her real passion – caring for the ill. She studied and became a Certified Nursing Assistant at Barnes Kasson hospital in Susquehanna, PA. She took great pride in caring for patients for over 20 years and was known as one of the best caregivers. Her other passions were flower gardening and playing the piano. Wallie was a people person and made friends wherever she went which served her well as she moved around the country to be near her daughters after Clarence passed away. Her last move was to Vermont which she liked because it reminded her of her beloved home in Pennsylvania. She is finally returning home to rest. A viewing will be held on Friday, April 1, from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m., at Hennessey’s Funeral Home, 747 Jackson Ave. Susquehanna, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Wallie on Saturday, April 2, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, Jackson, PA. If you wish to make a donation in lieu of flowers, the Franciscan Missions was a charity dear to Wallie. https://franciscanmissions.org/support-our-mission/donate-to-the-franciscans/