Obituary of Michael W. Smith

OBITUARIES Michael W. Smith, of New Britain, passed away Tuesday, after a brave battle with cancer. He was the son of Robert J. Smith of New Britain and the late Ruth (Lynch) Smith. Born in 1954, Michael attended St. Mary's School and New Britain High School. He spent his working career at Northeast Utilities where he made numerous friends that he held dear. Michael loved outdoor activities, vacations on the Rhode Island Coast, volunteering with the Special Olympics, and watching his beloved son, Travis, play sports. Attending Travis' Little League games years ago, to being on the chain gang on the sidelines of Xavier Prep games, Michael took great pride in his son's endeavors. From helping with Boy Scout activities, to long bike rides around the West Hartford Reservoir, Michael was always on the go. He enjoyed working out at the gym, and working around the house as a handyman on a ceaseless list of projects. When he had completed enough of them to relax a bit, he took his beloved wife and soul mate of 22 years, Sheila, ballroom dancing. He frequently enjoyed surprising people with how good his footwork was. A member of St. Paul's Parish in Berlin, where Travis had gone to elementary school, Michael was a devout Catholic, attending Mass weekly until his illness intervened. Michael leaves a large extended family including his wife Sheila and son Travis, two sisters Mary Smith of Willimantic, Maureen and her husband David Trudel of Farmington, two brothers Stephen Smith of Plainville and Mark and his wife Patricia Smith of Berlin, MA; his mother and father in law Willa Mae and Joseph Bilskis of Spring Hill, FL, brother in law James and his wife Stephanie Bilskis of Northford, CT, a sister in law Sharon and her husband Charles Flaws of Shelton, CT, a brother in law Gregory Bilskis of New Port Richey, Fl, a sister in law Lisa and her husband Michael Prete of Milford, CT. Michael also leaves many cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. Funeral services will be held Monday 9:00 A.M. from the Farrell Funeral Home 110 Franklin Sq. New Britain, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. at St. Paul's Church, Kensington. Burial will be private. Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Smilow Cancer Center 20 York St. New haven, CT 06510-3702. Michael and his family would like to thank Dr. Piepmeier, Dr. Knisely and Dr. Lacy of Yale/New Haven Medical Center and all the nurses and staff who helped him there. He also greatly appreciated the VNA personnel who came to his house each day for the past several weeks to help care for him and his family.