Lillian Agnes Smith (nee O’Dowd)

March 13,1925 ~ February 13, 2026

It is with deep sadness that the family of Lillian Smith (nee O’Dowd) announces her passing at Newport Harbour Care Centre, Calgary, Alberta on February 13, 2026 at the age of 100 years. She will be lovingly remembered by her children, Judie Laird of Calgary, Alberta, Robert (Barbara) Smith of Sundre, Alberta, Arlene (Mike) Pollock of Calgary, Alberta, daughter-in-law, Pauline Smith of Roxboro, Quebec, eight grandchildren and a granddaughter-in-law and five great grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Lloyd Smith in 2014, son David in 2023, and grandson Darrel Smith in 2018. Her passing marks the end of a generation for the O’Dowd and Smith families.

Lil was the youngest of 5 children, born to John and Agnes O’Dowd. In 1946 she met Lloyd through friends, and they married within 8 months. In 1951, with two kids in tow, they relocated to Milton, Ontario due to Lloyd’s transfer with Air Canada. In the following years, with 4 children, she was involved in many church activities, including Sunday school, youth and women’s groups and was always busy! A neighbour commented one morning while putting rollers in her hair, that mom left the house, hustled downtown for sewing fabric, came home and had made a skirt before the neighbour had taken the rollers out of her hair. And always on foot! She walked everywhere she went.

In 1965, another transfer took the family to Montreal. This was a great adventure for her. She loved the French language and PM Pierre Trudeau! His picture sat in an 8 x 10 frame on the piano for the duration that he was Prime Minister. Friends thought he was a member of the family!

Although Dad wasn’t much of a traveler, Mom sure enjoyed the travel benefits the airline offered over the years. She would visit family every few months to keep in touch. She’d be off to Victoria to visit her brother and family, California to visit her sister and then to Winnipeg for a catch up with two more sisters, and back home within a week. A few months later, she’d do it all again!

Lil was a talented piano player. There was no money for lessons when she was growing up, but she could play anything she knew, by ear. Wherever there was a piano, she would sit down and play and soon enough, she would draw a crowd to sing along to the familiar tunes.

In 1979, Lloyd retired from the airline and they returned home to Winnipeg. Travel for Lil continued and she was often on a plane to Montreal, Toronto or Calgary to visit the kids and grandkids. Soon there were 3 families living in Calgary so she visited frequently but never overstayed her welcome. She was fond of saying “guests are like fish, after 3 days…they stink!”

Because of these whirlwind visits throughout the years, her nieces and nephews remember her with great fondness because she touched their lives. She was interested in where they worked, what hobbies they had, their vacation plans, their children’s interests, did they have a dog? And remembered all of it!

The next picture to be slid into the 8×10 frame was Tiger Woods. She was an avid golf spectator, watched all the tournaments, knew the players, their stats, strengths and weaknesses. She liked winners! At 92, she made it clear that although she enjoyed our weekly family get-togethers, she’d be holing up in her room for 4 days watching the Masters and did not want any interruptions!

She liked discussing politics and was an avid reader. We enjoyed Sunday family get-togethers from the time Mom and Dad moved to Sundre in 2002. It started with Piro’s Restaurant in Sundre, then the legion, and finally, a Holiday Inn in Calgary. Everyone knew where to meet on a Sunday afternoon.

Lil was feisty with her own sense of style and flair, and hair stylists were right up there with Pierre Trudeau, Tiger Woods and God!

Her final home was Newport Care Centre where she moved in February 2024, and in typical Lil fashion, she left her mark. She was not one to focus on illness or medical issues, neither her own nor anyone else’s. She was more likely to comment on a lovely pair of earrings, a smart-looking hairstyle, a pretty blouse, or the Manager’s clean white running shoes!

Our Queen Mum will be missed. Although we say rest in peace, it is more likely she will shake things up!!

At Mom’s request, there will be no service. The family would like to thank Silvera for Seniors, Shouldice Lodge and Newport Harbour Care Centre staff and residents for their friendship, support, and the many years of entertainment Mom enjoyed so much. In keeping with her love of animals, donations to your local Humane Society are appreciated.

Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.heartlandfuneralservices.com. Arrangements in care of Heartland Funeral Services (Sundre), 2A, 102 – 2 Street, Sundre, Alberta 403.638.4393

• Date : 2026-02-27
• Location : Heartland Funeral Services (Sundre) www.heartlandfuneralservices.com 403.507.8610