MARGARET CECELIA DONOHUE SMITH

Feb. 15, 1923 - Nov. 27, 2018

Margaret Cecelia Donohue Smith, affectionately known as Margie, was born in Rockville Centre, NY on February 15, 1923 to Alfred and Margaret Donohue and died of natural causes in El Centro, CA on November 27, 2018. She was raised in Rockville Centre, graduated from St. Agnes Academy in 1941 and later attended Columbia University in New York City. She took a clerical job during the war years. A chance meeting with a returning serviceman, Captain Sherman M. Smith, resulted in a bi-coastal romance and marriage on September 21, 1946.

Imagine if you can, leaving New York City and setting foot in Niland, California en route to Brawley, after a 3-day train trip across the country. She and Sherm settled in Brawley and raised three sons: Brian born in 1947, Kevin in 1949, and Greg in 1953. She and Sherm were married just shy of 64 years at the time of his passing in 2010.

Margie was the best Mom, active in her beloved Sacred Heart Church. She was a Cub Scout den mother and was always running the boys to Little League games, the golf course, or just offering plain sensible advice.

Margie was active in the community, including the Pioneers Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, Del Rio Country Club Auxiliary, Sacred Heart Church and School activities, Brawley Women’s Club, PEO and many others.

Margie and Sherm donated their time, talents and gifts generously, most notably to Pioneer’s Memorial Hospital Foundation, Sacred Heart Development Corp, Imperial County Historical Society, Pioneer’s Museum, and Republican Women of Imperial County.

Margie was an avid traveler, having been to her homeland of Ireland many times as well as Italy, France, Germany, Africa, England and all over the US. She and Sherm traveled the Alaska-Canada Highway in a pickup/camper rig in 1980 before it was paved. They traveled several thousand miles of desolate space before returning.

Margie was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Margaret; husband, Sherman and brother, Alfred Donohue Jr. (Dorothy).

She is survived by her three sons Brian (Cleo), Kevin (Karen), Greg (Michele); 10 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to acknowledge and thank the staff at Heart and Hand in El Centro for the incredible and compassionate care they provided.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Imperial County Historical Society or Pioneer’s Memorial Hospital Foundation.

Memorial Mass will be held on Thursday December 6, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Brawley, CA.