Obituary of Betty Lou Smith

With sorrowful hearts, we share the passing of Betty Lou Smith (Vail) which occurred suddenly on November 17, 2025 at the Saint John Regional Hospital.  Born June 21, 1958, she was the daughter of the late Alice (Price) and Laurence Vail.

Betty Lou is survived by her loving husband Bill of 47 years, son Matthew Smith (MacKenzie) of Belleisle Creek, NB,  children Gwen and Gabby, daughter Melissa Roy (Chris) of Belleisle Creek, NB, children Sawyer and Camille, and son Craig Smith of Belleisle Creek, NB, sisters, Bev Desruisseau (Rick) Belleisle Creek, NB; Lorraine Huggard of Belleisle Creek, NB; Marilyn Hovey (John) of Waterborough, NB; Karen Walsh (Fred) Sussex, NB; Kimberly Vail (Shawn McKeown) of Grand Bay Westfield, NB; sister-in-law, Kathy Vail, Barrie, ON, brothers, Kevin Vail, Moncton, NB; Ricky Vail (Marcia Bunnell) Apohaqui, NB; Tony Vail, Belleisle, NB.

In addition to Betty Lou’s parents, she was predeceased by her infant son Charlie and daughter Shyann McQueen, brothers Ronnie and Russell Vail, and brother-in-Law Bill Huggard. 

She will also be loved and remembered by her aunts and uncles, many nieces and nephews along with all of her Smith in-laws.

There are not enough words to describe how very much Betty Lou was loved and will be missed.  She was Bill’s love in life.  They were inseparable partners in everything.  They were high school sweethearts and spent 47 years married, culminating in 51 years together.

In addition to a life spent with Bill, she was the proudest and biggest cheerleader of her children and grandchildren.  From sporting events to school activities, Betty Lou was front and center for every game, every competition and every important life event that they took part in.  She was the official cow bell ringer at the boys’ hockey games and there was not a single opportunity to take a picture that she missed.  Every moment of her family and friends’ lives was recorded in some form or another, from the Kodak instant pictures, to the handheld video camera, to finally her phone, she captured it all. 

She enjoyed so much of life, always laughing, smiling and genuinely caring about people.  She spent her life working with the public from her first job at the Met Lunch Counter, to her retirement from Sobeys Deli in 2025.  Her passions in life came in many shapes, from her craft making and special love of snowmen, her famous chocolate cake with boiled icing, to floating in her pool on a hot summer day.  She was constantly contributing to the betterment of the community from her participation in the Belleisle Harvest Auction to the unofficial photographer of the Belleisle High Prom graduates.

Betty Lou never went anywhere without meeting someone she knew, she loved to talk and laugh.

How do you summarize Betty Lou? There is not enough paper to write down all that she was, wife, mother, best Nana, sister, and friend.  She has left an emptiness in everyone’s heart and will be forever missed by all.    

There will be a Celebration of Life held at the Belleisle Creek Hall, (across from the Belleisle Creek Post Office) on December 6, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Interment will follow in the Spring of 2026 at the St. Simons St. Judes Anglican Cemetery, Belleisle Creek, New Brunswick.

Charitable donations in memory of Betty Lou may be made to the Belleisle Home & School Bursary Fund or the Belleisle Creek Hall.  Personal condolences to the family and donations may be made through SherwoodsFuneralHome.com