Beverly A. Smutzer

On Sunday morning, October 13, 2024, Beverly “Bev” Smutzer passed away peacefully in her sleep, with her Bible on her nightstand, cards from loved ones from the Chelmsford, MA congregation on her bedroom walls and a mystery novel on her table.

Serving others for over sixty years as a full-time volunteer minister sharing good news about God’s heavenly government which will bring peace to this beautiful earth, was one of the joys of her life while she was single and later as she raised a family.

Born on June 13, 1939, in Wellsville, NY, Bev was an incredibly hard-working young woman. Married on April 22, 1972, to Ronald Buckley Smutzer, she became the proud mother of her son Chad six years later. Wife and caregiver to her parents, in-laws and later to her husband Ron in his time of illness, she was also a sister, aunt and loyal friend to so many across New York, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, where her ministry took her.

Bev had a zeal, organization and drive that was beyond compare. Growing up listening to the ebb and flow of the Genesee River running behind her home in Wellsville, NY, Bev could sometimes be seen swinging on the rope swing above the river with her siblings. Bev also enjoyed learning from her father, a master carpenter and builder. She enjoyed sports and was not bashful at all to use a hammer and power tools to construct bookshelves or anything that needed to be built. Fearless, she once (or twice) drove like Jehu to rescue her friend who had run out of oxygen and obtained it for her before the rescue wagon could arrive.

A life of service to others, Bev studied the Bible and provided much practical support to hundreds of her neighbors, to help them strengthen their belief, love and hope in their Creator, Jehovah God, whose very name means “he causes to become” - a reminder to mankind that he will fulfill his promise for the earth to be at peace and without pain or suffering. A lover of learning and avid reader, she often said that curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back to life - satisfaction and life through knowledge, in particular knowledge of her Creator.

Other joys she held include her love of sharing her no-bake cookies and cornbread, her special teriyaki venison marinade or finding a great bargain when shopping. She also loved animals, once rescuing a dog in the rain, stuck in-between two buildings in Brooklyn, NY, where she volunteered at the World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses during the late 1960s to early 1970s. Her fellow volunteers there never forgot her vacuuming without shoes, telling them, “You can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl!” Her family looks forward to sharing more adventures with Bev when she lives life to her fullest in the coming peaceful new world.

Bev was predeceased by her husband, Ronald; her brother, Wilbert Schultz, Jr.; her sisters, Betty Converse and Wilda Harris. Bev is survived by her dear son, Chad (Áine) Smutzer; her sister, Shirley (George) Meyer; her brother, Albert (Candy) Schultz; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins she loved dearly.

Her family would like to deeply thank Pascale Ngirumpatse, Bev’s outstanding case manager at AgeSpan, Massachusetts; Ellen and Breanna, nurses with AgeSpan; Kim, MJ, Evelyn, Becky, James and Aurea and all of the many round-the-clock home helpers who helped Bev be at her son’s side during nine years of navigating Alzheimer’s caregiving at home. The family is also very grateful to Holly and Krissy at Life Care Center in Billerica for their transitional support and assistance recently.

Funeral arrangements will be at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1162 Airport Road, Hornell, NY 14843-9149 on Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 4 PM. A zoom option will also be available.