Peacefully at her winter home in Florida, Nell passed away March 13, 2024 at the age of 79. Born in Shherpenzaal, Holland, April 14, 1944 to the Vermeulen and Kwakernaak families. Nell immigrated to Canada via Pier 21 with her parents (Neeltje and Hank) in March 1948 at the age of four. Raised in the Annapolis Valley (Canaan), with a strong contingent of Dutch families. Her mother instilled the importance of a good education and so Nell decided to take nurse training in Halifax. She met the love of her life (Dennis Smith of Wolfville) at the age of 17 and they married in March 1964, a year before she completed her training, so they spent one year living apart. Nell and Dennis lived in Halifax, Saint John, Dartmouth, and New Glasgow, making many friends along the way before settling in Charlottetown, where they would spend the best years of their life raising their four children. Nell worked as a labour and delivery nurse for many years at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and spoke fondly of her time at the Grace Maternity Hospital in Halifax, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Saint John and Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow. She was a blood donor for many years. Actively involved with many organizations including Rotary Clubs and Kinsmen, which was a great way to meet people, some who became lifelong friends. Nell was a vocal proponent for equal opportunities in education, actively involved with her church, Spring Park United, and supporter of the Confederation Centre of the Arts. She could often be found tending the church vegetable garden, in addition to her own beautiful flower gardens. Nell and Dennis loved to travel the world, visited many wineries, walked the El Camino trail in Spain and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro together. Survived by her husband Dennis, and children Jeff, Chris, David and Darren, grandchildren Katherine and Alex (Jeff and Sue), Megan (Darren and Bev), Campbell, Olivia, Charlotte and Adrienne (David and Stacy), great-grandchild Clara (Katherine and Mark), sisters Liz Vermeulen, Wolfville; and Mary Bishop, Edmonton, AB; and brother Hank Vermeulen, 70 Mile House, BC. Predeceased by her mother and father, as well as beloved dogs Cindy and Mindy. Nell was a proud mother, grandmother and recently great-grandmother, who was famous for her homemade pies (apple, blueberry and lemon), knitted dish clothes, love of the woodlot in Springton, crossword puzzles and the Christmas song “Little Donkey”. Always positive and supportive, welcoming and ready for a great conversation. She will be greatly missed by those who loved her. Forever in our hearts. A celebration of life will take place at a later date in Charlottetown. Donations can be made to the Canadian Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation in her memory.
Nellie Johanna "Nell" (Neeltje Vermeulen) SMITH (Vermeulen) — Charlottetown, PE
