Pauline Ann Smith née Sorrentino, 85, passed away peacefully in her sleep Feb. 25, 2026.
Born in Red Bank and raised in Rumson, Pauline was a lifelong resident of Monmouth County. She graduated from Rumson-Fair Haven High School and Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York City. After marrying Jack Smith in 1962, they settled in Fair Haven and raised their sons, Jack and Jim.
Pauline was active in the community, serving as a den mother for the Boy Scouts, a CCD teacher, and team mom. She embodied the definition of “good neighbor” on Poplar Avenue for 60 years. Pauline cherished her friendships with Linda, Kaye, Brenda and her dear sister-in-law JoAnn Sorrentino.
Pauline loved taking bus trips through the tri-state area for shopping and shows, and never missed a church fair, silent auction or luncheon with friends from all areas of her life. An avid traveler, she visited nine European countries, in addition to Alaska and Hawaii. She loved reading and crossword puzzles and was a true foodie. She retired in 2017 after 34 years as a legal secretary at the Monmouth County Board of Social Services, where she made so many friends.
Surviving are her two sons, Jack Smith and his wife Beth of Helmetta, and Jim Smith and his wife Martha of Alpharetta, Georgia; and her three grandchildren, Henry (Kathryn), Matthew (Rachel), and Priscilla. She was predeceased by her parents, Anthony and Barbara (Vigilante) Sorrentino; her loving husband of 44 years, Jack; and her brothers, James and Joe.
In lieu of flowers, Pauline asked for donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. March 27 at the John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. March 28 at The Church of the Nativity in Fair Haven. Entombment will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery & Mausoleum in Middletown.
The article originally appeared in the March 5 – 11, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
