Charlotte Smith

MADISON-On April 7, 2023, we lost our beloved daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth Smith, to COVID pneumonia. She was unable to fight it off due to the health issues she struggled with during her life.

Charlotte was born on New Year’s Eve and had to stay in the hospital an extra day following a large snowstorm, which kept everyone at the hospital until the weather cleared. It was beautiful out when we left the hospital the next day. She graduated from Monona Grove High School in 2000, in the first graduating class to enjoy the newly rebuilt school. Charlotte went to Madison Media Institute and received a degree in Comprehensive Broadcasting in 2001. She had worked at the Monona library since high school, working as a shelver/page. Charlotte loved the staff and thought of them as family and dear friends. She had a special relationship with each and every one of them. They all looked out for each other and were there to support each other through anything that came up in their lives.

Charlotte’s greatest passion was music and going to concerts and would go anywhere to see favorite artists. Summerfest was a favorite. She looked forward to finding out the lineup of musical artists each summer. Charlotte loved seeing groups such as Usher, Pink, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5 and Jennifer Lopez. In high school, she burned mixed CDs for family and friends as gifts with their favorite music to play in their cars or at home.

Charlotte was a wonderful aunt to her niece and nephews. She always thought of the perfect Christmas and birthday presents to fit their interests. Charlotte loved playing retro video games like Super Mario and Sonic the Hedgehog with her brothers, niece and nephews.

Charlotte often thanked her parents for all the trips they went on as a family. She went to Kailua, Hawaii, where her grandpa still lived and her dad went to school. Visiting family was fun because they knew places to go that tourists didn’t know about. Charlotte had fun playing with her brothers in the sand on the beach and learning to boogie board in the surf. For her 17th birthday, her family drove to New York to see the Lion King at the New Amsterdam Theater (the only place you could see it before it went on tour). On the way home, in Pennsylvania, the family realized that a storm was right behind them. They drove straight home without stopping and got home at three in the morning with the snowstorm on their heels. They woke up the next day to several feet of snow on the ground.

When the Bucky statues were all over the Madison area Charlotte found and took a picture with each one. Her dad had a book made with all the pictures. Some were very hard to find but she was determined.

Charlotte’s parents took care of her in their home in the later part of her life as she struggled with disability. She was grateful to have them close by to support her needs and had a special place in her heart for her mom and dad.

Charlotte loved her cats and she took excellent care of them. Her cats, Leo and Lilly, will miss her terribly. Thank you to friends Angie, Jane, Holly and Jessica for all the fun “hang outs” and lunches she enjoyed with each of you.

Charlotte is survived by her parents, Ken and Roberta Smith; brothers, Alex Smith (Jessica) and Nate Smith (Alyda Oosterwyk); niece, Luna Smith; nephews, Roman, Tommy and Tim Smith; great-aunt, Dorothy Haines; and many aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family. She was preceded in death by her grandparents on both sides.

A celebration of life will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, at 2 p.m., on Saturday, May 20, 2023. A visitation will be held at the funeral home from 12 noon until the time of the service.

Memorials may be made in Charlotte's name to the Jefferson County Humane Society, where Charlotte adopted her cats, Lilly and Leo.

Thank you to all the doctors who took such wonderful care of Charlotte throughout her life. Dr George, Dr. Bartels, Dr. Elson, Dr. Rein and Dr. Achufusi, as well as, all the other doctors she saw in the UW system throughout the years. Thank you to the doctors and nurses at the East Madison Hospital and the TLC unit at University Hospital who were compassionate and kind and did everything they could to try to save her.

Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420