Daisy “Dee” Woodruff Elfenbein Smith, 102, loving mother, grandmother, bookkeeper, religious school teacher, feminist and role model, died in her sleep on Thursday, March 9th at her home in Media, PA. Born in Buffalo, New York on Thanksgiving Day of 1920, Daisy was an inspiring figure to her family and friends. She faced many hardships and overcame many obstacles during her long lifetime, including the Great Depression, poverty, separation from her parents because she was earning her own living from the age of 13, and being twice widowed (once at age 47 and a second time at age 94). While lonely during her adolescence, Daisy was a superb student. With the help of her older brother, Gene, a teenager himself, she focused on her studies and graduated as valedictorian of the 1938 Class of Buffalo’s Grover Cleveland High School.

Blessed with two loving marriages, in1948 she first married scholar, educator and businessman, Conrad Elfenbein, an Erie, PA resident and Daisy’s boss and mentor at Conrad’s Jewelers. During her marriage, she chose to become the stay at home mother of two children, Donald Elfenbein of Morgantown, WV (Anna) and Emily Elfenbein Scheivert of Media, PA (David). The family settled in Harrisburg, PA and spent summers camping across the U.S. and Canada. After Conrad’s death in 1968, Daisy worked as a junior accountant at See-Right Pharmacy. She put her children through college and became a member of the religious school faculty at Harrisburg’s Temple Ohev Sholom.

In 1975 Daisy was fortunate to meet and then marry Israel “Ike” Smith, a Civil Engineer and outdoorsman, who nicknamed her Dee. The two enjoyed a long, active retirement together at Lake Meade, PA, Ocean Pines, MD, and, Delray Beach, FL. Eventually, they settled in Media, PA. During this period, Dee became a second mother to her beloved daughter in law, Lori Cohen, a resident of Portland, OR (Brian) and stepmother to Corey Smith of Westport, CT (Nadine). “Gramma Dee” was a devoted grandmother to her four grandchildren: Amanda Hymansmith of Portland, OR (Matt); Zephyr Salz of Portland, OR (Bruce Robert); Katherine Salz of Plantation, FL (Gil); Aaron Salz of Pittsburgh, PA; and great granddaughters, Mari Hymansmith and Hazel Hymansmith both of Portland, OR.

Following Ike’s death in 2015, Dee received loving care from her devoted daughter and son in law - sharing her keen sense of humor; telling many stories of her almost 103 years on earth; beating them at gin rummy; singing along with Broadway Show tunes; being read to; watching Lawrence Welk, and celebrating her 100th, 101st and 102nd birthdays with her adoring family and always inspiring others as an example of living and dying with grace.

A Memorial Service will take place Sunday, April 2nd at 1pm at the Community Arts Center at 414 Plush Mill Road, Wallingford, PA 19086. A lunch will follow. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Providence Animal Center in Media, PA www.providenceac.org.