Obituary of Estelle R. von Alt

MIDDLEBURY, VT - Estelle Rose Smyth von Alt (Strose) of EastView in Middlebury, Vermont, formerly of Syosset, New York, died peacefully at age 94 in her home, surrounded by family and dear friends, on July 9, 2018. Born December 20, 1923, she was the daughter of James P. and Estelle Quinlan Smyth of Northport, Long Island, New York, the oldest of five siblings who remained very close throughout their lives, despite living far apart as adults. As her brother, Jim, said, “When a member of the family sneezes on the East Coast, we hear it on the West Coast.”

Estelle graduated from Northport High School and from Flower-Fifth Avenue Hospital Nurses’ Training School, then served as a cadet nurse at Halloran Hospital on Staten Island, helping wounded veterans returning from Europe. Later, while raising three children, she earned a BS from Adelphi University, and became a nurse and health educator in a number of elementary schools in Syosset, NY (Robbins Lane, Split Rock, and Berry Hill) until she retired in 1992. She loved children and cared deeply about their health and well being.

On June 15, 1946, Estelle married Albert (Albie) Joseph von Alt at the St. Philip Neri Church in Northport.  After living in other parts of the US, Estelle and Al returned to Long Island, buying a house on Whitman Avenue in Syosset in 1952, where they raised their family and continued to live together until Al’s death in 1987. Estelle remained in that house, spending summers for many years in “The Beach House” in Northport, until she moved to Middlebury, VT to be closer to her sister, Kaye, in 2014. With boundless generosity, Estelle opened her homes to multiple generations of family and friends, making all feel welcomed and treasured.

Estelle was a life-long learner, an avid consumer of news and science magazines and educational programs, who found great joy in her ceramics class and in traveling the world.  Her family always enjoyed her bits of wisdom including “No one grows old; you only grow old when you stop growing”, “Children need to be loved the most when they deserve it the least”, “Trouble is opportunity in work clothes”, “It’s not what you want, it’s what you get”, and “Wine gives you just enough of a rest”, to name a few.  She took great pride in her family, friends, and the arts.  Full of compassion and wisdom, her love and goodness will be carried on through all who were blessed to cross her path. 

Survivors include her daughter Kimberly A. and husband Barron C. Nelson of Rio Rancho, NM; her daughter Katherine M. von Alt and husband Stan L. Henderson of Cedar Park, TX;  her son Christopher J. and wife Mary D. von Alt  of Maidstone, VT; and her grandchildren, Michaely (Kaley) and husband Paul Rave of Locust Valley, NY; Laura Werner of Rio Rancho, NM; Exa von Alt and husband Doug Miller of Stillwater, OK; Alexander (A.J.) von Alt of Natick, MA; Seth von Alt and Duncan Russell both of Waterbury, VT; and her great grandchildren, Tyler, Tanner, and Peyton Rave; Claire and Jacob Werner; and Christopher (Kit) Miller.

Mrs. von Alt was predeceased by her husband; her sisters, Katherine (Kaye) Duffy and Isabelle Mahurin; her brothers, James P. and Joseph C. Smyth; and two grandsons, Andrew (Andy) Nelson and Garrett Russell.

Viewing will take place from  2-5 PM and 7-9 PM on Friday, July 13th at the Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home in Northport, NY. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Philip Neri Church in Northport, NY at 10 AM on Saturday, July 14th, followed by a burial at the St. Philip Neri Cemetery in East Northport, NY. The celebration of her life will then continue at Pumpernickels Restaurant, located at Main Street & Rt 25a in Northport.

The family wishes to thank all of the caregivers and staff at EastView for their extraordinary, loving care of Estelle throughout her years there.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to “Parish Social Ministry” at St. Phillip Neri (www.stphilipnerinpt.org), or a charity of your choice.