Obituary of Dr. Arthur Smithen

SMITHEN, Arthur Herbert – Died suddenly at home after a long period of poor health on Saturday, July 30, 2011. Arthur Herbert Smithen at the age of 83. Arthur leaves his wife of fifty-two years, Jean. Mourned by daughter Kathryn Smithen and her daughter Natasha Polychronopoulos (Toronto, Ontario); daughter and son-in-law Gillian and David Fisher and their children Michael, Maggie and James (Ilderton, Ontario); daughter and son-in-law Erin and Barry Somers and their children Maia, Hannah and Benjamin (London, Ontario), daughter and son-in-law Patricia and Jon Clarke and their daughter Isabel (London, England); son and daughter-in-law Peter and Cori Smithen and their children Aidan, Eliot and Jacob (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and his younger son Lucas Smithen (Toronto, Ontario). Arthur was predeceased by his infant son Michael in 1972. Arthur received his surgical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin in the 1950’s and his Fellowship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario in the 1960’s. He practiced medicine in Sarnia for over 30 years and was proud of the fact that he delivered so many Sarnia babies. In addition to his love for his family and medical work, Arthur loved to play bridge and was an excellent and fierce player. He received his Life Masters Certificate in 1985. He was a congregant of Ahavas Isaac Synagogue in Sarnia for many years. Burial will take place after a graveside service at the Shaarey Zedek Memorial Park in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Thursday, August 4, 2011. He will be buried in a plot that has been in his mother’s family for over seventy-five years. Donations in Arthur’s name made to your favourite charity or Lambton Wildlife Fund, P.O. Box 681, Sarnia, Ontario, N7T 7J7 would be appreciated. A tree will be planted in memory of Dr. Arthur Smithen in the McKenzie & Blundy Memorial Forest. Dedication service Sunday, September 18th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at the Wawanosh Wetlands Conservation Area