Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

ROCKLAND - Marian Eva Smith Sneath Vansant, 83, died Saturday, February 13, 2010, from lung cancer.
Marian lived courageously during her cancer journey, surviving the odds suggested by her treatment providers, and choosing life after each setback. She became known to those close to her as 'The Phoenix', as she continually rose from the ashes to fly undaunted once again. Marian was born in Norwood, Massachusetts, to Sherrill and Gertrude Murray Smith on November 11, 1926. She graduated with a B.A. from Wilson College in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.
Marian had three grown children from her marriage to Gordon Sneath (deceased) when she married Paul in Summit, New Jersey in April of 1977, who had five. They loved and supported all eight with fond memories.
Marian worked as a substitute teacher and then as a bookkeeper for several different companies as she moved from many places in the New Jersey - Pennsylvania area.
Her final move at the age of 80 would be to Rockland, Maine from Waymart, Pennsylvania in July, 2007. Paul and Marian loved their new surroundings and would make many new friends along the way as they would walk to the breakwater almost daily that summer. The following April, she was diagnosed with state four lung cancer and made the decision to fight this disease for as long as she could. When Marian became a hospice patient she continued to make new friends and be an inspiration to many of them.
She is survived by her husband, Paul Vansant, her sister, Dorothy Smith Schliemann of Hawaii, her brother Sherrill Smith of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. She has three children, Stuart Sneath and his wife Susan of Keansburg, New Jersey; Donald Sneath of Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania; Laura D'Ambrosio and her partner Cindy D'Ambrosio of Rockland. There are five step-children, Robert Vansant of Las Vegas, Nevada, Suzanne Vansant Feeks and her husband Joe of Edgartown, Massachusetts, Charlie Vansant and his wife Kavita of Milford, Massachusetts, Jim Vansant and his wife Ting of Waldorf, Maryland, and John Vansant whom Paul and Marian raised together from the age of six and his wife Gail of Tyrone, Pennsylvania. She had two grandchildren, Katie and Heather, four step-grandchildren, Carly, Megan, Katie, Menka and one great-grandchild, Evelyn. Marian will be especially missed by Cindy and Laura's grandson, Noah D'Ambrosio, with whom she was particularly close during the end of her life. There are many friends she leaves behind whose lives were better for knowing her, especially Christine Amptman from Waymart, Pennsylvania.
Marian's family wishes to express their deep gratitude to Jacki and Midge from Kno-Wal-Lin Home Care & Hospice for their compassionate care of Marian during her journey.
At Marian's request, there will be no funeral or memorial service. Because of her concern of the great need in this area for a hospice house, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kno-Wal-Lin Hospice House, 170 Pleasant Street, Rockland, Maine 04841
Arrangements are in the care of Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.