Anthony Smith
As told by wife Sarah Smith and daughter Ella Smith
Tony was a man of great strength, compassion who truly loved life and loved to laugh. His priorities were clear to everyone that knew him — faith, family and service. His commitment to his wife Sarah and daughter Ella (his girls), his country and all of his extended family, friends, and the student-athletes he coached will never be forgotten.
There isn’t just one memory that stands out as a favorite because the Smith family enjoyed all of the moments. Though every day wasn’t perfect, we forgave fast, told each other “I love you” and found the fun and laughter in everything we did, every opportunity we had, every obstacle we faced.
In March 2023 at the age of 43, Tony was diagnosed with stomach cancer. For 18 months, he fought this horrible disease with every ounce of his being. Hope was prevalent in our home and Tony encouraged everyone around him to lean into their faith along the way.
In 2024, Tony began carrying a small figurine of Jesus in his pocket. As treatments continued and doctor visits became more frequent, Tony started giving his Jesus figurine to those that cared for and loved him — with a reminder to carry Jesus with you everywhere you go. Ella and Sarah (and so many friends and family) have continued this tradition of sharing a Jesus figurine with those we encounter.
On September 6, 2024, we met with the Cedar Valley Hospice team for the first time, and on September 9, Tony was admitted to the Cedar Valley Hospice Home for care. On September 14, 2024, at the age of 44, Anthony Joseph Smith claimed the ultimate victory over cancer and went home to be with Jesus. The care that he received during his time at the Hospice Home was top notch. We are a big family, and you welcomed all of us with open arms full of support and love. From the moment we walked in the door, the team at the Hospice Home cared not only for Tony but also us as his wife and daughter — allowing us to step back from our roles as caregivers and focus on being a family.
We want to encourage families that are facing a cancer diagnosis to learn more about hospice right away. Though Tony’s time in hospice care was short, we now realize that the services they offer could have been so helpful to our family months before we called.
Choosing hospice care does not mean giving up hope—instead it means giving life. The hospice team has the resources available to families to help with pain management, in-home care, and allows husbands and wives the chance to take a breath and just love their spouses. As families we advocate for the best health care in treating our loved ones, but often overlook hospice care as part of the plan out of fear. We learned that we could still have hope and still look for treatment options but, in the meantime, hospice would help us with pain management and quality of life.
Thank you to Cedar Valley Hospice for the important work that you do in our community. The impact you have had on our family is one that we will never forget. You will forever remain in our hearts and prayers.
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