Obituary of Brenda E. Vincentz-Smith

Brenda Eileen Vincentz-Smith of Stamford, NY, died Tuesday, September 6, 2016, at age 67, after a five year battle with cancer. She was born on August 5, 1949, to Eileen Silvester and Howard Denig. Brenda grew up in Manhattan and Short Hills, NJ and was a graduate in Art Education of William Paterson University. She moved to upstate New York in 1972 with her first husband, Wayne Vincentz. Brenda taught for over 30 years, working with preschoolers in Stamford and teaching art in both Stamford and Hancock schools. While teaching in Hancock, Brenda earned her Master's in Art Education from Walden University. In addition to her work as a teacher, Brenda was an accomplished artist, gardener, and cook. She and her late husband Stuart Smith loved to travel and visited Mexico as often as possible until his death in 2007. Brenda is survived by two sons: Joshua Vincentz of Indianapolis, IN, and Adam Vincentz of Buffalo, NY; three stepchildren: Ethan Smith, of Emmaus, PA, Ian Smith, of Hightstown, NJ, and Hilary Smollinger, of Souderton, PA; five grandchildren: Tyler Smith, Abby Smith, Benjamin PayneSmith, Reed PayneSmith, and Isla Vincentz; and a brother, Russell Denig of Palm Beach Gardens, FL. A celebration of Brenda's life will be held at MacArthur Funeral Home 40 Cornell Ave, Hobart at 2PM on Sunday, September 11, 2016. After the service, a brief reception will be held at the MURAL on Main Gallery in Hobart. In lieu of flowers please send donations to MURAL (at http://www.muralartgallery.org) or to the Sydney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University (at https://w3.jefferson.edu/giving.cfm ). Please visit www.macarthurfh.com to share a condolence with the family.