Obituary of Leslie Ann Smith
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Leslie Ann Smith, 28, passed away on Tuesday December 16, 2008 surrounded by family and friends after fighting a courageous battle against leukemia.
Leslie was born on August 30, 1980 to Susan and Earnest Smith in Shreveport, Louisiana. She was raised in Mountain Lakes, NJ and Bedford, New Hampshire and most recently resided in Hoboken, NJ. Following the footsteps of her father and grandfather she attended Lafayette College where she joined the Rugby team, Delta Gamma Sorority, and studied aboard in Spain and China. Upon her graduation in 2002 Leslie taught Kindergarten at the Bedford New Morning School, Bedford, New Hampshire. She went on to be an educator in the Hoboken Charter School, Hoboken, NJ. Her greatest joy was sharing in the lives of the children she taught.
Leslie was predeceased by her paternal grandmother Betsy Heller.
Miss Smith is survived by her parents Susan and her husband Dick Heller of Bedford, NH, her sisters Emily E. Heller and Christine M. Heller both of Bedford, NH, her half brother William Smith, of Shreveport, La, her maternal grandparents, Harvey and Rita Allen, of Greenwood, LA paternal grandparent, Richard J. Heller Sr., of Mountain Lakes her fiancé Michael “Dustin” Davis, of Hoboken, NJ and many loving Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and countless friends whose lives she has touched in so many ways. She shared her talents and gifts with every single person with whom she came into contact. And she never, ever, gave up. Leslie has taught us all a life lesson, indeed how to live life with meaning every day, and how to value life.
A celebration of Leslie’s life will be conducted from Norman Dean Home for Services 16 Righter Ave., Denville, NJ www.normandean.com, (please light a candle in memory of Leslie on web site), on Saturday Dec. 20th at 8:30am for a 10:00am Mass of Christian Burial at St. Catherine of Siena Church, Mountain Lakes, NJ, committal services at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Relatives and friends will be received at the funeral home on Friday Dec. 19th from 2-4 and 7-9pm. In lieu of flowers donations to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society 475 Park Avenue South, 8th floor, NYNY 10016 Attention: Light the Night, place Team Leslie on donation check would be appreciated.
