Sharon, VT - Joan Marie Smith, 91, died Sunday, November 12, 2023 at home.

She was born September 6, 1932, in Oswego, NY a daughter of John and Virginia (LeRoy) Rauss. After graduating from Oswego High School Joan worked as a teller for a local bank and then a stenographer for Oswego County before her marriage to Neil Smith, September 4, 1954. The couple made a home in Cedar Rapids, IA where they began their family together until moving to Vermont in 1961. After her children were older, Joan returned to work at First Interstate Bank in White River Jct. and then Dartmouth College before beginning her twenty year career with the US Postal Service. She started at the distribution center in White River Jct. as a secretary before working her way up to be the executive secretary to the Postmaster in White River Junction and then ultimately becoming the Postmaster of Taftsville and later in West Hartford. Joan retired in 1995 as Postmaster in West Hartford.

Joan was a devout member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in White River Jct. where she was very active in church affairs including serving as a Eucharistic minister. She also volunteered for the Upper Valley Haven and Brookside Nursing Home. Joan loved serving the elderly and home bound people. She was an avid reader and very strong in her faith. Joan was always early to rise every day to say her prayers for countless people. Joan also served as secretary for the Hartford Booster Club.

Joan is predeceased by two sons, Neil and Kevin Smith and a sister, Cherie King.

Joan is survived by her husband, Neil, of Sharon, VT; sons Timothy Smith and Eric Smith of White River Jct, VT, Christopher Smith of Topeka, KS and Patrick Smith of Goffstown, NH; daughters, Jolene Miner of Marlborough, NH and Rebecca Brown of North Waterboro, ME.  She also enjoyed sixteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Jct., VT Sunday, November 19, 2023 from 1-3pm and 5-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony Church in White River Jct. Monday at 11am. Burial will be private in the Pine Hill Cemetery in Sharon.

Condolences to Joan's family may be made in an online guestbook at www.knightfuneralhomes.com . Contributions in her memory may be made to St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 15 Church Street White River Jct., VT 05001.