MARY "MITZI" L (HELFRICH) SMART Obituary (1941

Mary Louise Helfrich Smart, "Mitzi", 75, went to the next life on the morning of April 22, 2017. She took her last breaths with her husband and daughter by her side at the terminal end of her battle with the rare bone marrow disease myelofibrosis. She was born the 5th of six children of William and Stella Helfrich in 1941, in the Pittsburgh suburb of Verona, PA. A proud graduate of West Penn School of Nursing, she went to Vietnam as a Captain in the Army Nurse Corps, and volunteered on a medical mission to Nigeria. She worked all over the US, but fate struck when her VW Beetle broke down in Lincoln County Montana. She met Don Smart while taking care of his grandmother at Libby Care Center to make money to get her car fixed. They were married during a Sunday service at Christ Lutheran Church in 1973. She loved golfing, kayaking, riding her scooter, and driving her yellow car. She is remembered for her kindness and welcoming smile. She is survived by her husband, Don, her daughter, Amy, and her son Philip (Tara) of Missoula, her grandchildren Vincent, Jack, Sam, and Piper, her siblings, and many beloved nieces, nephews and in-laws. A service celebrating her life will begin at 9:30 a.m., on Sunday, May 7th, 2017 at Christ Lutheran Church, Libby, MT. In lieu of flowers, the practical woman that she was wants you to make a donation to the charity of your choice. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.