Sara Romaine (Greegor) Smith

Sara Romaine (Greegor) Smith

Sara Romaine (Greegor) Smith, age 93, of Mechanicsburg passed away at home and surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, January 14, 2021.   Sara was born on Thursday, December 22, 1927, in Mechanicsburg to the late John Kutz Greegor and Clara Blanche (Markle) Greegor.  Sara was the widow of Rhuell “Ducky” Wellington Smith, whom she married on November 16, 1946, and who died on December 1, 1998.  In addition to her parents and husband, Sara is preceded in death by her daughter, Cheryl Elaine Smith; her son, John Rhuell Smith; her three sisters: Mary Snyder, Hazel Farner and Ruth Naugle Brenizer; and her son-in-law, Ray Hosfelt.

Sara’s survivors include her four children: Patricia “Pat” Eileen Hosfelt of Mechanicsburg; James “Jim” Wellington Smith and wife, Laurie, of Dillsburg; Cindy Lou Hedges and husband, Leo, of Gatesville, NC; George Richard Smith and wife, Lisa, of Mechanicsburg; her four grandchildren: Joshua Smith and wife, Brittany; Jennifer Baker and husband, Philip; Sara Gorsuch and husband, Wes; Jesse Smith; her two great-grandchildren: Bella Rose Gorsuch and Amelia Louise Baker and a third great grandchild on the way; her sister: Barbara J. Ocker of Carlisle; and several nieces and nephews.

Sara R. Smith, or Mom, grandma, and, her last promotion, Momma after great grandchildren showed up, was the living embodiment of Christ.  She grew up during the great depression, World War II, and many other trying times, but you wouldn’t have known that if you were around Momma.  She didn’t waste a thing, and if you showed up at her door in need of anything, she would do whatever she could to be sure you didn’t leave disappointed.  I have honestly lost track of the total number of people that she took in at one time or another during my life.  She still expected her family to be at her home on Sundays for our weekly get together.  She loved to cook and was, indeed, a master.  When it got chilly outside, she would do a lot of her cooking on the old cook stove.  It always made it just a little more special.   She worked at a hardware store in Bowmansdale, but that is a distant memory.  Momma was always home with us kids.  We were the source of her greatest pride and, truth be told, some of her deepest pain.  Dad worked the second shift at a feed mill, so Momma got to be the disciplinarian of the herd.  For the most part we respected her and didn’t really color too far outside the lines, but every now and again we would “feel our oats”, and Momma would reel us back in.  Forsythia switch, belt, bull whip (fun story), or whatever was handy was her weapon of choice.  I think the thing I admired the most is once it was done, it was done.  Truth be told, I am pretty sure we all deserved a whole lot more than we got.  Momma loved to color in her “grown up” coloring books.  Some of the patterns were enough to drive a lot of folks crazy, but Momma had to do them consecutively.  To skip ahead to a simpler one was just unthinkable.  Sara cared for others unconditionally and was a servant to her community.  She took many people into her home and gave them a comfortable place to sleep and was always ready to provide a delicious meal, asking “What’ll you have?”  Sara’s greatest joy was her grandchildren and great grandchildren.  The joy on her face and the twinkle in her eye when she was with them is a sight I will never forget.  I know this world was a much better place because she was here, and I know the party in Heaven was probably one for the ages.  I am thinking the greatest way to honor her would be, when faced with a difficult choice, WWMD.  What would Momma do?  If you have that answer you can be assured, you are doing the right thing.

All are welcome to join Sara’s family at her celebration of life open house and gathering of family and friends on Saturday, August 28, 2021, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a celebration of life at 6:00 p.m. at Buhrig’s Gathering Place, 25 East Main Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055, (717) 766-3421 (next to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory.  Over 100 parking spaces are available; just look for the “Buhrig” parking signs in all of the parking lots.  Cremation was private.

Sara’s family has entrusted her care to Buhrig Funeral Home & Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Sara’s full obituary, view her memorial video and portrait, offer condolences and sympathy, share stories and memories, upload photographs and videos, light a candle and sign her official guest book by visiting Buhrig.com.