Marguerite Singer Smith of Darien died peacefully December 2 at her home on Delafield Island. She was 80. She was the wife of the late Pearce D. Smith. They were residents of Darien since 1951.

Mrs. Smith was a member of the Religious Society of Friends and lived each day of her life in the Quaker spirit of simplicity, charity and community service. For most of her adult life, Mrs. Smith was a tireless volunteer for the blind, and for many years served as the President of the Connecticut Braille Association. The CBA provides most of the braille textbooks used by blind public school children in Connecticut. From her home, Mrs. Smith transcribed thousands of textbooks, many in foreign languages, into braille.

In addition to her work on behalf of the blind, Mrs. Smith was active with the Darien Chapter of the Red Cross. For many years, she was also a familiar figure to new residents of Darien, through a small local business she ran known as New Neighbors.

Mrs. Smith was born on August 4, 1926 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She married Pearce D. Smith in 1949 and they moved to Darien in 1951 where he began a career on Wall Street. At his retirement, Mr. Smith was a trust officer with the Darien branch of Connecticut Bank and Trust. The couple traveled extensively in their retirement, playing tennis around the world under the auspices of People to People Sports.

Mrs. Smith is survived by her three children, Susan S. Wedgwood of Bellevue, Washington and her twin sons Dr. Harton S. Smith of Olympia, Washington and Turner P. Smith of New York City. She also leaves five grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Noroton Presbyterian Chapel, 2011 Post Road, Darien, on Friday, December 15, 2006 at 11:00 AM.

Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Connecticut Braille Association, 44 Imperial Avenue, Westport, Connecticut 06880.

Funeral Home:

Edward Lawrence Funeral Home

2119 Post Road

Darien, CT

USA 06820

Visitation:

Edward Lawrence Funeral Home

2119 Post Road

Darien, CT

USA 06820