Obituary of Mary Elise "Mimi" Smith

Mary Elise “Mimi” Smith, formerly of Eden, NY and, most recently, Williamsville, NY, left her physical limitations behind and danced off into the Kingdom of her Lord on January 21, 2025 with her family by her side.

Born on May 7, 1960. Mimi was preceded in death by her parents, Jack M. Smith and Mary Ellen Smith (Brindley) and two unknown, yet selfless, organ donors, who gave her their kidneys so that she could experience 43 additional years of a dialysis free life. She is survived by her siblings: James “Brad” Smith, John C. Smith (Kathleen), Anita “Winkie” Smith (Maureen Reese), and Jaclyn “Jackie” Smith, along with her 2 nieces: Jena Nasevich (Michael) and Elizabeth “Lizzy” Smith.

Mimi faced many uphill health battles throughout her life, but her faith in the Lord never wavered. Initially projected by doctors not to live past her teenage years. Mimi defied all the odds to live an amazing 64 active years, still working out once a week with her favorite trainer at the Y, Brian, until just recently. Her hobbies included plastic canvas, listening to music, attending theater plays, and playing dominoes. Mimi especially looked forward to her annual trips and adventures with her “Labor Day Ladies” (aka Kate Riedel, Kathy Brenner, and Lynn Crabtree)  which were expertly planned, executed, and even “documented” with trip minutes that were filed by Mimi for future reference for when she needed a good laugh. A review of these minutes detail 22 years of memories, laughter and assorted shenanigans on various trips which enabled her to experience such things as the sea turtles on Jekyll Island, the Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, the Rockettes in NYC, Mama Mia in Toronto, Prince Charming in Disney World, and trips to Nashville, Washington DC, and Cincinnati, to name a few.

Mimi is forever grateful to her nephrologists at Buffalo General who added many quality years to her life. First the late Dr. Anthone Brothers, and currently, Dr. Kohli.

A memorial mass at Immaculate Conception Church in Eden will be celebrated at a later date at the convenience of the family, followed by interment at Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Eden.

Memorials may be sent to the Eden Community Foundation, in Mimi’s honor.

Words of sympathy may be left on www.LaingFuneralHome.com