Dorothy Rose Smith

Dorothy Rose Smith, 84, passed away Saturday May 5, 2012, at Homestead Village. Born in Huntingdon, PA, she was the daughter of the late Harold M. Rose and Olive Reynolds Rose. She was married to the late G. Aaron Smith.

Growing up in Wilmet, IL, she attended New Trier High School and graduated from Wellesley College and Northwestern University. Her music career included performing as a principal with the Lancaster Opera Workshop, later serving the same organization as its artistic director for 17years, forming and directing the Lancaster Symphony Chorus, and serving as Director of Music at Highland Presbyterian Church for 29 years. She was an active member of the international community in Düsseldorf, Germany, where she lived with her husband and children for 9 years, directed the choir at Christ Church, and helped found the American International School, where she also taught music and English.

She is survived by her four children, Debra Lenssen, Hallie Polt, Andrea Folan, and Evan Smith, as well as seven grandchildren, and her sisters Nancy Mellem and Peggy Dunn and brother Carl Rose.

A memorial service will be held at Highland Presbyterian Church, 500 East Roseville Rd., Lancaster, on Thursday, May 10 at 2:00PM. The family will visit with friends following the service. Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family. Kindly omit flowers. Contributions may be sent to OperaLancaster (OperaLancaster.org).