Norma E. Smith passed away peacefully on September 14, 2026 at Cape Memory Care in Cape Elizabeth, Maine following an extended illness. She was 97 years old. She was born in Cumberland, Maine on May 12, 1929, the fifth child of the late Chester and Veatrice Verrill. She graduated from Greely Institute, Cumberland in the class of 1948. The following year she married Sidney Smith with whom she lived their entire married life in North Yarmouth, Maine until his death in 1996.

For many years she and Sid enjoyed sailing in Casco Bay on their boat the NONIE-V and camping trips throughout the Eastern United States and Canadian provinces. She was also a member of the North Yarmouth Fire Dept Auxiliary and a frequent room mother for her daughters’ classes at the North Yarmouth Memorial School.

Always an enthusiastic and dedicated worker, she was employed for over thirty years as a lunch lady in the North Yarmouth and Cumberland schools. Later in life she helped Sid with his lawn care business and cleaned homes, a job she particularly enjoyed. After retirement she cheerfully helped others, providing day care for great grandchildren and helping her son-in-law sell plants at the Portland Farmers’ Market, working into her mid eighties with the zest of a much younger woman.

Norma was an accomplished gardener and cook, well known for her colorful flower garden, meticulous house and grounds, and wonderful farm meals, especially her pies and cakes. She was a loving and loved mother and grandmother who always enjoyed various family gatherings and time with family at her camps on Crystal Lake and Chebeague Island.

The Cumberland Fair meant apple pie contest to Norma and she was a fierce competitor for many years. Her entries were usually within the top three winners including overall winner of which she was very proud. She eventually dropped out of the competition to “give others the opportunity to win”. Making the perfect apple pie for family meals was serious business for her and she passed this trait on to more than one descendant. At dessert time her pie would appear and subsequently be critiqued, always receiving unanimous approval. The family recalls that Sid always declared “That was the best pie I ever ate!”

Caring for her family was foremost in her activities and happy memories of her devotion and love will carry on.

She was predeceased by her husband, parents, and stepson Whitman Smith, as well as all her siblings: Richard Verrill, Dwight Verrill, Randall Verrill, and her sister Gloria Sanborn. She is survived by her daughters: Gail Bruns (Larry) of Gorham, Maine, and Cindy Cherner (Fred) of Cumberland Center, Maine; grandchildren: Ben Bruns of Buxton, Adam Bruns of Limerick, Susan Brackett of Raymond, Matthew Cherner of South Weymouth, Massachusetts, David Smith of North Yarmouth and Michelle Cardoza of Cumberland; 12 great grandchildren: Gabrielle Bruns, Kelly Bruns, Collin Bruns, Sydney Brackett, Corey Brackett, Jacob Cherner, Addison Cherner, Andrew Cherner, Chloe Smith, Addison Smith, Zada Smith, and Marina Cardoza.

Interment will be in Walnut Hill Cemetery, North Yarmouth. A celebration of her life is planned for a later date.

Much thanks to the caring staff at the Landing at Saco Bay, Woodlands Cape Memory Care, and Gentiva Hospice.