Obituary of Vernon E. Smith

Vernon E. "Smitty" Smith, Jr., a resident of Danbury, Connecticut, entered into rest Thursday, March 6, 2014 at Danbury Hospital. He was 53. Son of Constance O. Smith of Wappingers Falls and the late Vernon E. Smith, Sr., he was born September 28, 1960 in Poughkeepsie. Smitty had worked as a certified diesel truck mechanic, one of only nearly five hundred in the country. He specialized in fire trucks and worked for Firematic in Carmel. He was a member of several fire related organizations. Smitty enjoyed all things agricultural and was a member of the Mount Hope, Pomona and New York State Granges. He enjoyed gardening and farming, cooking, canning and baking. He was known for his award winning apricot jam. He loved to tinker with farm tractors. In his younger years he raised goats and cows and together with his fiancée, currently raised chickens. In addition to his mother, Connie, he is survived by his fiancée, Renee Floccari of Danbury; his great-aunt, Pauline DeLuco of Florida; several cousins; as well as several close family members and dear friends. Family will receive friends on Sunday, March 9, 2014 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 East Main Street, Wappingers Falls. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 10 at the funeral home. Interment will be in the family plot at Wappingers Rural Cemetery, West Main Street, in the spring. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you donate blood or you may make a memorial donation in Smitty's name to Regional Hospice and Home Care of Western Connecticut, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT 06810 or Hudson Valley Hospice, 374 Violet Avenue, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. To send the family a personal condolence or for directions, please visit our website at www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.