SMITH, Merle Elizabeth - Passed away very peacefully after a brief illness at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, Burlington, on Tuesday, February 21, 2006 in her 85th year. Loving sister of Joyce Williams. Dear aunt of Brian Williams, Brenda Cole, Barbara Gilbart, Sharon Williams, Barry Williams, Joan Hassey, Bonnie Maloney, Stephen Williams and great aunt of 19 nieces and nephews. Merle was born in Hamilton on September 29, 1921 and graduated from Burlington Central High School. In 1941 she graduated from Hamilton General Hospital as a Registered Nurse and joined the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp from 1943- 1945. Merle received her Bachelor of Science of Nursing from McGill University in Montreal and worked in a Supervisory Capacity at The Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal and at The Montreal Neurological Institute for 15 years (combined). She graduated from Detroit and Boston Universities with a Master of Science in Nursing. She returned to Hamilton as Director of Nursing at Hamilton General Hospital from 1960-1967. From 1968 - 1971 she was a consultant for The American Sterilizer Company in Pennsylvania. Merle returned to Canada in 1971 as Director of Nursing at Norfolk General Hospital in Simcoe until her retirement in 1986. She resided in Simcoe and volunteered in many organizations and had various wide interests. She moved to Burlington in July 2004 to be closer to her family. Special thanks to the kind and caring nursing staff at Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital. Visitation at SMITH’S FUNERAL HOME, 485 Brant Street, (one block north of City Hall) BURLINGTON (905-632-3333) on Saturday, February 25, 2006 from 10 am until time of Funeral Service in the Chapel at 11 a.m. Cremation. A Private family interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario would be greatly appreciated by the family.