George Zmed-Smith Obituary

Cornel, Walter and Adrian,

I was born in Lugoj, Romania and my father Aurel Todorescu is an ordained priest who served in the '70s
and early '80s in a small town near the border with Yugoslavia called Gaiu-Mic. I remember the townspeople speak candidly of the great father Zmed: his great sense of humanity and his wonderful gift of musicality. When I was old enough to go up and explore the attic of the parochial home we lived in, I found little wooden toys up there and on the backs of them was carved the name Zmed. Would these have been any of your toys???
In 1984 my dad, Father Aurel, made a daring escape to avoid being interrogated by the communists as to what secrets the parish were revealing during the Sacramental Confession. He crossed the border and after being detained for several months at a work camp in Yugoslavia was told by the authorities to ask a relative to sponsor him to come to the United States. To make a long story short, he was sponsored by his great aunt and was assigned a parish of his own later on, after which my mother and I were reunited with him some 2 1/2 years later in the United States.
My father met the late Father George at Vatra Romaneasca briefly one summer and spoke very reverently of him.
Although I have never met the late Father George or any of you by that matter, I just wanted to let you know that somehow I feel connected to you by seeing those little dusty wooden toys I found in the attic in Gaiu-Mic, left there who knows how long before I was born.
May the Good Lord send you peace, comfort and hope in this time of grief and may Father George's memory be eternal.

In veci pomenirea lui!

Respectfully yours,
Lia Maria Todorescu-Spezzano

Adrian,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.I am praying that peace, hope, and comfort will be with you.
With caring thoughts,
Sue Bergquist-Strom(Nellie Forbush)

Adrian: My thoughts are with you and your family in this trying time. How often we talked about his wonderful work and his devotion toward making things better for all. There are countless of wonderful memories that will live for ever. With my best regrads, Dr. Jerry Field

Our hearts go out to you at this time and in the days ahead.

My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

In blessed repose, grant eternal rest, O Lord, to Thy newly departed servant, the Very Reverend Father George, and render his memory eternal.
Eternal Memory!

In Christ,
The Panchisin families

Dear Adrian,

My condolences to you and your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

My deepest Sympathy to Adrian in the passing of your father. I remember your dad when you lived on Seminary and Belden. We were neighbors across the street.
Kevin Kaihara

Dear Adrian and family,
My condolences to you and your entire family.I believe Father George is entering a wonderful new life.
I went to school with Adrian at Mayer,Arnold and,Lane and grew up on Belden Avenue.I remember the Smith family fondly.
Mark Swenson

Dear Zmed Family:
We have many memories of Parinte Zmed from Holy Nativity and also from living together on Seminary in Chicago. We extend our deepest sympathy. Ann, Richard, and Bonnie Stanchiu

Dear Zmed Family,
It was with sadness I learned of Fr. George's passing. I remember him from my youth in Gary when my dad was priest there. Now Fr. George goes to join the hierarchs, priests and family who have gone before him. May God grant him peace. Dumnezeu sa-o ierte.

Dear Zmed-Smith Family,
I am deeply saddened to hear of your father's passing... I offer my deepest sympathy to your famiy in this difficult time.. He was a truly respected man and has turned many to the orthodox church. I am a prime example and have been blessed to have been christened by him.
Dumnezeu sa-l pazeasca...

Dear Adrian and family,

I would like to offer my deepest sympathy on your father's passing. His was a noble calling and now he will reap his eternal reward. May the angels lead him into paradise.

Fondly,
Mrs. T. Urbaszewski
Retired Lane H.S. Faculty, Chicago