Harriet Barbara (Kluge) Smith

Harriet B. (Kluge) Smith passed away peacefully with her children by her side and everyone’s love surrounding her on Friday, evening April 29, 2022, in Albuquerque, NM. She was 93 years young and led a life of love, kindness, and service. Harriet was a woman with a strong faith, spirituality and determination who always greeted people with a beautiful smile. Her words of wisdom "Be happy and do good for others" embodies her life’s work with the Lord. Heaven has gained an angel and a bright, shining star.

Harriet was predeceased by her loving husband of 47 years, John “Jack” Henry Smith in 1995; grandson, Andrew Graham Narcus in 2002; son-in-law, Michael Pryor in 2003; parents, Mary (Mulholland) Kluge and Harry Kluge; five sisters, Kay, Anna, Marie, Elizabeth and Dorothy; in-laws, Barbara, Esther and Andrew; dear friends and her beloved animal companions Papito and Bella.

She was a loving wife and mother raising five children and taking care of her husband, Jack for many years. Harriet is survived by her children, Lt. Col. John “Jack” H. Smith and his wife, Phyllis of Colonial Heights, VA, Sharon S. Narcus of Brighton, MA, Stephen P. Smith, MD of Sanford, NC, Susan M. Smith of Baltimore, MD and Margaret E. “Betsy” Smith of Albuquerque, NM who was her primary caregiver; grandchildren, Jennifer N. Hamner (Billy), Jaime M. McEntyre (Steve), John Owen Narcus (Sarah), Patrick M. Pryor, Jessica S. Pryor, Alexander P. Smith; great-grandchildren, Emily, Caleb, Lainey, Zac, Katie, Caroline, Ash, Andrea and Rae; her nieces, nephews, many friends and care providers she loved and cherished.

Mrs. Smith was born in Westfield, NJ and lived for 81 years in NJ. She was a graduate of Holy Trinity High School in Westfield and the Traphagen School of Fashion in New York City. She married Jack in 1948, a World War II Veteran and POW, US Army, then a lifelong Educator. Harriet and Jack resided in Plainfield and then raised their family in Fanwood, NJ for 32 years where Harriet was active as the Local Assistance Director and Board member for 15 years.

She spent 20 years as a Girl Scout Troop Leaders Consultant, Organizer, Neighborhood Vicechair and a Parish Coordinator for St. Bartholomew the Apostle Church in Scotch Plains, NJ. Harriet graduated from the Elizabeth General Hospital School of Nursing with honors in her early 40s. She was employed as a staff nurse at John E. Runnell’s Hospital. Harriet also gave her service with the Welcome Wagon and the NJ State Commission for the Blind.

After their children were grown, Harriet and Jack moved to Tuckerton, NJ where they were members of St. Theresa’s Church. She was active in the Interfaith Food Pantry, a Eucharistic Minister and spent years working with the Liturgy of the Word for Children, was a member of the Rosary Society and the Parish Council. She volunteered at Sea Crest Village, the Laurel Auxiliary 2nd Time Around Shop and worked with numerous organizations.

Harriet moved to Albuquerque, NM in 2010 where she and Betsy had a joyful home together with their animal family including her canine companion Cinnamon (She, like Bella provided unconditional love and protection) and puppy, Jack. She affectionately began to call their home “Shangri-La.” In Albuquerque, she volunteered for the Red Cross and St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Church (SJRG) Prayer Quilt & Shawl Ministry.

Harriet loved laughter, walking, caring for pets of all kinds, drawing, sewing, crocheting, celebrating, and decorating for holidays, music, gardening, pizza, sweet treats, preparing meals and desserts, hosting events and tea socials then sending food home with guests, travel, theater, and sports along with dancing and singing bringing good cheer to others. She was among Keith Urban’s oldest and young at heart fans and enjoyed seeing him in concert twice.

Her passion for adventure started as a young girl and continued throughout her life including family road trips in Harriet’s chariot, traveling to Jordan, Israel and Egypt where she rode on a camel with a friend in Giza and saw the pyramids. She went to Rome, Italy for the Jubilee in 2000 and on cruise ships to Puerto Rico, Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean, Panama Canal, and Alaska.

While Harriet had progressing chronic medical conditions, she had a zest for life, cheerfulness, and boundless energy. Love was the emphasis at home. Harriet lived life to the fullest one day at a time. She had immense gratitude for physical therapy and exercise that were such an important part of her daily activities. She had a heart full of song every day and throughout the night. Sing-a-longs with Betsy and the animals at the piano, with their cherished guests or anywhere were frequent.

Harriet’s family shares sincere gratitude with the following for their unwavering support and compassionate care: All family, friends and neighbors, Betsy’s colleagues at the UNM Foundation, their parish family at the SJRG church, FRENCH Funerals Westside, Acequia Animal Hospital, Neon Dream Pet Sitters and Canine Country Club Westside aka “4201” to Harriet, and all of Harriet’s medical and care providers including the staff at UNM Hospital (Including the Clinical Neurosciences ICU, Palliative Care, Units 4 West and 6 South), Advanced Home Health and Hospice, Mayberry Senior Services, Honor and Retreat at Home, UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, the UNM Senior Health Clinic and specialty clinics in the community, and Albuquerque Fire Rescue’s Home Engagement and Alternative Response Team (H.E.A.R.T) and its Station # 18 responders, medical technicians and paramedics.

Memorial donations may be made in Harriet’s name to:

St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Church Nazareth Center: https://my.e360giving.com/app/giving/stj5901280 · Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation.html/ · Animal Humane New Mexico: https://animalhumanenm.givecloud.co/give · Andrew Graham Semper Fi Fund: https://www.agsffund.org/ways-to-give.html · UNM Popejoy Hall Excellence Fund: https://www.unmfund.org/fund/popejoy-hall-excellence-fund/ · UNM Palliative Care Fund: https://www.unmfund.org/fund/palliative-care-fund/ · UNM Memory and Aging Center: https://www.unmfund.org/fund/memory-aging-center/

Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails: https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=gsnmt&id=21

Feel free to donate to a charity of your choice that reminds you of your time with Harriet;

Or remember her by doing something to help another person or animals such as ordering pizza or baking chocolate chip cookies for a homeless shelter, share a meal with someone or work with an animal shelter to bring items they need … such as food, toys, blankets or towels or ask your local Fire Department how you can help out.

Harriet loves all of you so much. We know she is singing her favorite songs from Heaven with all of us here on earth, “The Stars at Night are Big and Bright, Deep in the Heart of Texas,” “My Sweetheart’s the Man in the Moon,” “How Much is that Doggie in the Window?” and … “I Love You a Bushel and a Peck.”

Aloha, a hui hou, Harriet … We love you and until we meet again, Harriet ~

May God Bless Harriet and Each of You ~

The family encourages stories and pictures of Harriet to be sent to harrietinthemountains@yahoo.com.

Celebration of Harriet’s life will start with a visitation on Tuesday evening, June 14, 2022, at 6:00 p.m., followed by a Rosary recited by Deacon George Miller at 7:00 p.m. at FRENCH – Westside. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday morning, June 15, 2022, at 9:00 a.m. with Monsignor Lambert Joseph Luna as the celebrant at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande Church, 5901 St. Joseph’s Drive NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120. Burial to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.