BELFAST — Brenda Louise (Ward) Smith, known as Narmie, of Belfast, passed away unexpectedly, to be with her Lord, Aug. 25, 2014, at Waldo County General Hospital, with her family by her side. She was born Dec. 11, 1946, daughter of Baxter and Doris (Littlefield) Ward in Belfast.

She graduated from Crosby High School in 1965 and worked for several stores. She worked for many years in the mail room at Journal Press in Belfast. For the last 22 years, she worked in food service for Maine School Administrative District 34 and Regional School Union 20. She was the head cook at Captain Albert Stevens School in Belfast and was looking forward to starting another school year. She thought of the students as her kids and loved to talk with them. To many she was known as "The Lunch Lady."

Her family was her life and she loved being around them. Brenda's passion was cooking, and she is widely known for her yeast rolls, biscuits, cornbread muffins and whoopie pies. During her life she had several milking cows and always had laying hens. Over the years she had many hobbies, including keeping bees and trapping. Brenda was a hard worker and a giver to all and will be sadly missed by many.

Brenda was predeceased by her parents; and a brother, Baxter "Toby" Ward of Searsport. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Owen Smith; her daughter, Kelli Grindle-Stone and her friend, Bruce Wood, of Belfast; her brother, Jeffery Ward and his wife, Donna; her sisters, Donna O'Leary and her husband, Darrell, and Dale Kimball-Kocot and her husband, James, all of Belfast. She is also sadly missed by her two grandchildren, Shane Grindle and Karagen Stone, both of Belfast. She was loving and doting "Narmie" to them both. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Roger Smith and his wife, Beverly, of Searsport; her sister-in-law, Linda Ward of Searsport; her brothers-in-law, David Smith and his wife, Leona, of Hartford, Conn., and Dennis Smith and his wife, of Florida. She is also survived by her best friend, Sandra Otis-Anderson of Searsport and many, many of her extended family. She has many nieces and nephews and several great-nieces and great-nephews who she dearly loved, and they loved her. To many of them she was "A.B."

Friends and family are invited to call Thursday, Aug. 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Riposta Funeral Home, 182 Waldo Ave. in Belfast. Graveside services will be held Friday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. at Grove Cemetery.

Those who wish may make donations in Brenda's memory to C.A.S.S. Lunch Program, 31 Elementary Ave., Belfast, ME 04915 or to Searsport United Methodist Church Food Pantry, P.O. Box 169, Searsport, ME 04915.