Jane Adams Smalley
In Hamden, Dec. 29, Jane Adams Smalley, 83, wife of the late William Allen Smalley, mother of William A. Smalley, Jr. and his wife, Martha of Hamden and Carol Smalley and her husband, Stanley Hanna of Bend, OR, and the late Stephen David Smalley. Also survived by a daughter-in-law, Tara Smalley of Wallingford, and grandchildren, Stephen, Kelly, Christopher and Ian Smalley and Betsy Hanna. Born in East Northfield, MA, August 30, 1922 , she was the daughter of the late Eugene and Bella Mae Anderson Adams. Jane graduated from Brockton High School in MA and Houghton College in NY. She met William Smalley at Houghton and they married in 1946. In 1949 the Smalleys moved to France to learn the French language, and then went on to French Indochina, specifically Laos and Vietnam, as missionaries with the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Returning to the States in 1954, Jane worked at home raising the Smalley's three children, and functioned as secretary and editor for her husband. In 1962, the Smalley family moved to Thailand and lived there for five years. Jane learned the Thai language and was certified to teach in Thai schools. Jane became a pert-time teacher at Dara, a girls' school in Chiengmai. The Smalleys left Thailand and moved to Hamden, CT from 1967-1969. Jane worked as a substitute teacher at Michael Whalen middle school. Dr. and Mrs. Smalley had two more short residences in Thailand, and they lived in either New Haven or Wallingford when they returned to the United States. Then Dr. and Mrs. Smalley moved to Moundsview, MN where they lived for 12 years. Jane was heavily involved in the Hmong community and with Hmong refugee resettlement. After the Smalleys' final return to Hamden, Jane worked as church secretary for First Presbyterian Church. Her volunteer work in Hamden included refugee resettlement, church librarian, and coordinator of the First Presbyterian Peacemaker Project, which honored local children who were peacemakers in their middle schools. A reception will be held Sun., Jan. 8, 2006 from 1:30 - 2:15 p.m. in the Common Room, 6th Floor at Whitney Center, 200 Leeder Hill Dr., Hamden. A Memorial service will follow at 2:15 p.m. Arrangements under the direction of BEECHER & BENNETT, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden, CT
Bill and family, I want to extend my deepest sympathy to you at this time, for the loss of your mother. Having lost both my Dad and Mom, I know how difficult it is. What strengthens me, is knowing and truely believing, that they are no longer suffering. That is true for your Mom, at this time too. A very close friend of mine suggested that I keep photo’s of occasions and happy times, about my home and in close view, so that it would remind me of the positive times, that we shared over the many years. I have done that and it does help to see them smiling and happy. That is how I choose to remember them. You have been a wonderful son, to your Mom,Bill. You have been there for her,.present., thru these difficult times. You were there for her, thru the loss of your brother, also. That meant the world to her, I am sure. You were at her bedside, thru her final days. There does comes a time, that is all we can do. Those are things that not all sons are capable or willing, to do. You were present. You are in my thoughts and prayers, at this difficult time. With deepest sympathy and sincerity, Suzanne Healy