Obituary of Ann L. Smith

Ann Lacamera Smith, passed away just shy of her 100th birthday on March 28, 2017, at Meadow Lake Health Care in East Windsor. Ann was born in New York City, NY to Angelina and Michael Lacamera. She was the granddaughter of Dr. Ernesto Sarpi who was a Medal of Honor recipient in Italy. She lived in North Plainfield, NJ most of her life and graduated from North Plainfield High School on the National Honor Roll. She then attended Rutgers University, Newark College of Engineering and Kean College. Her career started at Ransome-Worthington as Office Manager, then in Sales, followed by Engineering Assistant to the Vice President of Marketing. She worked for Johnson and Johnson, Inc. at Ortho Diagnostics and J&J Corporate Offices in New Brunswick where she became Manager of a Corporate Personnel Function for all the J&J Companies. After retirement she formed Smith-Goodwin Associates as consultants in retirement planning. She was a charter member of Counterparts, made up of Fortune 500 companies in the early 1970's whose mission was the advancement of women and minorities in the corporate world, This became her passionate mission earning her recognition in "Who's Who in the East" 1982 edition. She also served on the Board of Adjustment in North Plainfield for 15 years. She was pre-deceased by her husband Herman P. Smith, and sisters Josephine McKeever and Mary Schionning. A sister, Inez Franko of North Plainfield, and many nieces and nephews along with great & great-great nieces & nephews survive her. A visitation will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017, from 3-5 & 7-9 p.m. at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung, NJ. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 9:15 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a 10 a.m. Mass of Resurrection at St. Mary's Stony Hill Church, Watchung. Entombment will follow at St. Mary's Stony Hill Cemetery.