Laconia--H. Allyn Smith of Laconia, aged 89 years, passed away peacefully on Saturday September 6, 2014 in Meredith, NH.
She was born December 14, 1924 in Newton, MA, the daughter of Elliott and Hortensia Robinson. She graduated Laconia Hospital School of Nursing in 1947, and married Gardner Page Smith of Gilford, NH in 1947. As an RN, she worked in a variety of hospitals, including Lakes Region General and nursing homes. She began work as a staff nurse at Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Hyattsville, MD in 1971. In 1976 she became Director of Staff Development there, then was Director of Nursing from 1977 to April 1984. She was Director of Nursing then Nursing Coordinator at Greater Laurel Nursing Home in Laurel, Maryland from 1984 until July of 1987 when she returned to Laconia. She received a Bachelor of Science degree with a specialization in Gerontology from the University of Maryland in 1976. She was instrumental in the design and creation of the Collington (Episcopal Diocese of Washington) eldercare facility Mitchellville, Maryland, in the early ‘80s.
After relocating to New Hampshire, she worked as a visiting and hospice nurse in the Lakes Region. As Executive Director of Hospice Laconia Area, Inc., she worked for a year supervising paid and volunteer personnel and worked with the company’s Board of Directors to develop programs and seek funding. From 1988 to 1991, she was a visiting nurse for Heritage Home Health. She also served as an ombudsperson for the State of New Hampshire as patient advocate in a variety of nursing homes. She was a long-time member of the board of trustees for Taylor Communities in Laconia, and an active member of First United Methodist Church in Gilford.
Allyn is survived by four sons – Daniel (Gilford, NH), Timothy (Berkley Springs, WV), Peter (Cambridge, Ontario) and Paul (Dummerston, VT) – five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her former husband Gardner Smith, and her eldest son Dwight Elliott.
A memorial service will be held at 2 pm on Saturday, October 4, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church, 18 Wesley Way in Gilford, NH, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, gifts to the Memorial Fund or the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund at the First United Methodist Church of Gilford, PO Box 7408, Gilford, NH 03247 are requested.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.