Jean Lois (Metzler) Smith

Mrs. Jean L. (Metzler) Smith, 93, of Holliston MA died Sunday (May 31, 2020) at Blaire House of Milford after a period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of the late William F. Smith, who died in 2003.

Jean was born in Greenfield MA, the daughter of the late John and the late Emma (Brooke) Metzler. She received her bachelor of science degree from Fitchburg State Teachers College and then began her accomplished career as a registered nurse.

Jean was first employed as a teacher of nursing at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg MA. She then spent several years working as a registered nurse until her focus became raising her young family. She was a founding member and teacher at the Holliston Christian Nursery School. Jean later was employed as an electronics assembler at Honeywell Corporation and then finally was involved with numerous church ministries at the First Baptist Church of Holliston.

Jean is survived by her four children: Alex Smith and his wife Sharon of Livingston TX, Gregory Smith of Holliston MA, Barbara, wife of Ted Oxholm of Hopedale MA and Carol, wife of Paul Babineau of Newfoundland Canada; seven grandchildren: Nathan Babineau, Aaron Babineau, Benjamin Babineau, Teddy Oxholm, Christopher Oxholm, William Oxholm and Amy Smith; five great grandchildren: Livienne Babineau, Piper Grace Oxholm, Charles Evan Oxholm, Everleigh Oxholm and Coen Babineau; her sister-in-law: Jeanette Satkiewicz of Ellicott City MD; and several nieces & nephews.

Jean was the sister of the late Eleanor Medeiros and the late Arlene Arms.

Due to current times, a private family Graveside Committal Service will be held at Lake Grove Cemetery in Holliston MA, but the family looks forward to a future date when friends and family can safely gather at a Memorial Service at the First Baptist Church of Holliston to celebrate Jean’s incredible life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to New England Aftercare Ministries, 18 Summit Street, Framingham MA 01702.

                                                    PLEASE READ THE ENCLOSED “TRIBUTE TO JEAN L. SMITH”

                                    In Honor of Jean Smith                                        June 16, 1926 – May 31, 2020

People often talk about the “dash” between the beginning of one’s life and the end.  No one could have had a more shining, beautiful dash as Jean’s.  You see, after Jean married Bill Smith, she started attending the First Baptist Church of Holliston, MA.  After a brief period of attending, Jean made a decision to follow Jesus Christ and gave her life to Him. The rest of her life she continued being a devoted Christian who showed God’s love to others all around her.  One of the first things she did was to start Holliston Christian Nursery School as a teacher and as the school Nurse. She was known as the bulletin board lady who displayed new themes on a display each month, creating “decades of beautiful boards that blessed the church and visitors enormously”.  Serving the community in many ways, Jean and her team constructed food baskets for shut-ins, visited them in their loneliness and organized “Sunshine Baskets” for college students. She organized meals for the New England After-Care Prison Ministries, making large meals for men who attended this program to insure they had a home-cooked meal every Friday.  Jean was a leader of the American Baptist Women and would help in committees, planning and working “tirelessly to provide supplies for missionaries, especially bandages that would be distributed all over the world”. Jean would drive others to church, no matter what she was going through and would prepare the communion elements with other church ladies.  In the summer she served in the VBS program, instructing children in crafts of small treasures, working very quietly and patiently with the children who came.  Jean’s handiwork was evident all around the church by her bookmark crosses, Christmas ornaments, poinsettia and Thanksgiving turkey pins that she would lovingly give out to people throughout the years.  She was known as a “very dedicated, and “all around lovely lady”, a “good friend”, and one who “lovingly doing things at the church”.  Most importantly Jean was known as “a kind, compassionate listening ear to those who were hurting.  Her love was so big that no trouble was too much for her to help carry”.  “People really felt loved by her”. “She truly shows all of us who Jesus really is”.

Most of all, Jean Smith was a very devoted wife of nearly 50 years, and a loving mother, dedicating her life to serving her family first. Those who spent time by her side were the most blessed, because, just like her Savior, being in her presence was the most satisfying and comforting experience and you would leave her presence knowing you were deeply loved and appreciated.

 To her family and friends, Jean “will always be one of the most amazing and Godly people to have known”…. We know that there is great rejoicing in heaven now that this beautiful Child of God has gone home to her reward, but we will greatly miss the gentle love Jean Smith spread to each person that she knew while on this earth.

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