Sigrid Smith

Sigrid Wilke was born on October 12, 1928, in Berlin, Germany, to Adolf and Meta Wilke. She took great pride in being the eldest of their five children.

Living in Germany through World War II, Sigrid faced adversity that instilled a strength in her, a quality that shaped her throughout her life.

Sigrid met her husband, William Smith, an Army Ranger stationed in Berlin. They married in Germany and welcomed their first child, William (Bill) Smith. Following their marriage, they were stationed in Ft. Benning, Georgia, where their daughter, Barbara Ann, was born. Sigrid formed a lifelong friendship with Ann Bowman during this time.

Moving to New Jersey, Sigrid worked in the import/export industry and resided in Rutherford, where she served as the President of the Tenants Association. Known for her dedication to justice and creating positive change, Sigrid later moved to Ramsey, New Jersey, where she lived for 32 years.

During her time in Ramsey, she held various jobs, including working as a German language educator at Berlitz, a school aide, and dedicated her life to community service. She volunteered for Child Protective Services as a mentor and contributed as a recreational activity volunteer at the Christian Healthcare Center. Sigrid's true passion was caring for the elderly, a commitment she upheld until her final day at the age of 95.

Sigrid cherished her family, proudly being the mother and mother-in-law of William and Nancy Smith and Barbara Ann Smith. She also cherished her grandchildren: Daniel (Maria) Smith, Jesse Canella, William (Adriana) Smith, Kimberly Canella, and Jason Canella. Sigrid was the proud great-grandmother of Colton, MJ, Natali, Ava, Luka, Kyle, and Erik.

Known for her tenacity and outspoken nature, Sigrid embodied tough love with a generous heart. She never went anywhere without Haribo gummy bears.

Fiercely independent, Sigrid lived by the motto, "If you rest, you rust." Her larger-than-life personality left a lasting impression on everyone who loved and adored her.

A celebration of life to remember and honor the life of our beloved Sigrid Smith will be as follows:

Date: April 13, 2024

Time: 12:00pm-3:00pm

Location: The Hermitage

Address: 335 Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423

This event is open to the community.

We kindly ask for all donations to be made directly in Sigrid’s honor to the Christian Healthcare Center, which she held dear. Please use the link below to donate.