Mary L. (Murphy) Smith, 98, formerly of Bayside Apartments in Ipswich and wife of the late Richard F. Smith, died Saturday December 6, 2008 in the Caldwell Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center  following her long illness.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia January 31, 1910, she was one of the ten children of the late James L. and Thecela M. (Romeau) Murphy. At the age of eighteen she came to the US to visit family and decided to stay. Married in 1934, the Smiths resided in Cambridge for the next twelve years.  For more than twenty-five years she was employed by B.F. Goodrich in Watertown, retiring in 1973. She and her husband enjoyed travel, having traveled much of the US and Canada. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting. Mrs. Smith was a longtime communicant of St. Joseph’s Church and Our Lady of Hope Parish of Ipswich.

She is survived by a brother, Leo J. Murphy of Halifax, NS; two sisters, Beatrice LaPiere of Nova Scotia and Stella Ross of California; two  granddaughters, Gail Gordon and Cheryl Greenlaw both of Hamilton, Ontario; two great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren and  many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by a daughter, Olive M. MacLennan formerly of Hamilton, Ont.; five brothers and one sister.

Her funeral will be held Thursday December 11 at 11  am in the Whittier-Porter Funeral Home, 6 High Street, Ipswich, followed by interment in the New  Highland Cemetery, Ipswich. Family and friends are respectfully welcomed.