Jane Farrell-Smith, popular teacher; at 45
QUINCY -- Jane Farrell-Smith, an elementary school teacher who was a classically trained ballerina, died Oct. 19 in her home in Quincy. She was 45.
Mrs. Farrell-Smith was born and raised in Springfield and attended White Street School, Forest Park Middle School, and Classical High School. Before marrying and moving to the Squantum section of Quincy 19 years ago, she studied dance as a prima ballerina at a dance studio in Springfield and at the School of the Hartford Ballet. She then transferred to American International College, where she graduated with a degree in teaching.
"She was very passionate about ballet, but it came to the point that she had to decide if that life was for her," Gale Flood, of Longmeadow, said of her sister's decision not to pursue a dancing career. "She was a lot more of a people person than a dance performer."
So, instead of showcasing her talents in productions onstage, Mrs. Farrell-Smith decided that teaching ballet and jazz to children would be much more rewarding, her family said. She taught at Palmer Dance Studio in Norwell for many years, according to her husband, Frederick Smith Jr. Mrs. Farrell-Smith worked as an elementary teacher in the Quincy public schools for 20 years, and was a second-grade teacher at the Bernazzani School since 1988. At the school, she was involved in the Daffodil Days program to benefit the American Cancer Society, and helped choreograph school plays. She was the Bernazzani School representative for the Quincy Education Association and the teachers union, and was well known for having unusual pets in her classroom, including iguanas, guinea pigs, frogs, and an axolotl, which is an aquatic salamander.
"She really did everything to the max," said her sister. "She was the teacher that made the difference, the one you're going to remember, that inspires you. She loved what she did."
Mrs. Farrell-Smith's husband said that being married to her was like being married to a celebrity. "Within a few years of living here, she knew everybody," he said. "We could be at the Stop & Shop, and I'd hear, 'Hi, Mrs. Farrell-Smith,' and she'd always take the time to talk. So it would always take two hours to go grocery shopping. Year after year, I heard from parents, saying how lucky they felt they were that Jane was able to reach their kid. She could pull him or her out of wherever that child was, and could nurture their strengths."
During the summers, Mrs. Farrell-Smith would teach at the South Shore Natural Science Center and for programs through the City of Quincy. She also spent a lot of time helping her son, Spencer, who is now 6, memorize the names of presidents, birds, and stars. "She painted the whole canvas for him, from the sky to the ground," her husband said.
Her family remembers her as an entertainer, and not as much by way of calculated and nimble dance as by her zany humor. "She was exuberant, doing voices and characters," her sister said. "She put on shows at our house, and she had the natural talent."
"She was extremely upbeat, enthusiastic, and always in a comedian-type mood, looking to perform and entertain everybody," said her brother, Michael Farrell, of Wilbraham.
Mrs. Farrell-Smith enjoyed television and movie trivia, and her favorite movies were the classics "Gone With the Wind" and "The Wizard of Oz." She was a fan of "The Brady Bunch" and "I Love Lucy."
Her hobbies included photography, making jewelry, and using calligraphy to make cards. She designed invitations for more than a dozen weddings.
In addition to her husband, son, sister, and brother, Mrs. Farrell-Smith leaves her mother, Gloria (Smith) Farrell, of Springfield.
A funeral was held Oct. 23 at Keohane Funeral Home in Quincy, followed by burial in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Springfield.
