Alberta Julia (Paturzo) Smith

Alberta Julia (Paturzo) Smith passed away on March 25, 2020, two days before her 94th birthday, in Kalispell.

With her at Immanuel Lutheran on this Wednesday evening were John, Diane and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren from across the country, on the phone, Bill, Julia and Marie each had a chance to say, “Goodbye; I love you!”

Wow, 94! And what wonderful and eventful years they were for this loved, loving, witty, vibrant lady, who was so much to so many — she was a daughter, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, great-grandmother and a very good friend for all these years.

Alice and Peter Fitzgerald were close friends forever with Berta. In the 1950s, they introduced her to Bill Smith; this was to be the start of a long, long, indestructible bond amongst the four. The very large Smith family that Bill had grown up with was a terrific crew of people who brought Berta into their realm. The cascade of all these wonderful folks will always be a part of Berta’s long life.

Bill passed away in 2011, and Alice, Berta’s steadfast childhood friend, left this world in 2014.

“Berta,” as she was called by all, was born in 1926 in Boston. As a young college graduate, she became a schoolteacher in the city, building her lifelong natural skill of educating, cultivating, motivating and inspiring everyone, young, old and in-between.

And she always was active and involved. So many years ago, when “recycling” was a concept new to most people, Berta would volunteer at the town facility to help people learn about the process. Back in the day, she brought home yogurt for us to taste when so few had even heard of this “new” edible. She sewed wonderful clothing, crafted homemade holiday decorations and made tasty Sunday dinners, where her dad happily joined us for fun get-togethers and his fine trumpet playing. Her interest was always in looking out for other people’s wants and needs; in this she succeeded.

After Berta and Bill married in 1954, she took time away from her school teaching to bear five children. After nine years, she reprised her teaching role at a Montessori school, where she was an exceptional, vital educator for almost 20 years. Berta was later sought after as a tutor for the young children of many of the families she had come to know during the time she taught here. Her patience, creativity and ingenuity enabled her to impart genuine, invaluable impact.

So many people benefited from Berta’s open, kindhearted, welcoming view of the world — family, friends, neighbors, friends-of-friends, her children’s friends (and, in later years, grand and great-grandchildren!). The times and events are countless. Without hesitation, Berta welcomed people into her home, to her kitchen table, to her listening ear, whenever the need or the occasion was there. Whenever, whatever … when the number of people wanting a meal was larger than the size of the repast, she magically made it large enough to go around. Nobody was left wanting. When someone needed a place to stay for a day or two, or longer, she made room in her modest home. They were welcomed. When someone wanted to converse — whoever, about whatever — Berta willingly listened. This was the way it was for so long.

Berta’s kids were given the gift of her generous nature, and they went on to find others to share in this auspicious world view. Over the ensuing years, Berta’s 11 grandchildren arrived; they were given no less of her love and attention than she had always given to others. And then — great-grandchildren! Eleven of them! As years passed by, she found delight from all these generations and always expressed her love and admiration for them.

After Bill passed away in 2011 at Julia’s home in New Jersey, Berta went to live with John and Diane in Montana. Up until her very last day, she enjoyed her large and very dear family. They will hold dear the years and years of Berta’s remarkable imprint on their lives.

We would like to extend an enormous thank you to the entire Fitzgerald family; the connection is indescribable.

A sincere thank you to the staff and caregivers at Immanuel Lutheran Home. Berta was comfortable in and appreciative of the time she lived there.

There will be celebrations of Berta’s life in Montana and in Massachusetts at a time in the near future.