Hypha Bardowell Smatt's Obituary
Smatt, Hypha Bardowell- Greek Orthodox Lebanese decent from Jamaica. Hypha
was born in Negril, Jamaica on November 4, 1915. She loved life, she loved her country, Jamaica and her adopted United States. She loved people, Miami, warm weather and living in Kendall. She loved staying up to date on news and politics, especially listening to former President Bill Clinton and President Barack Obama. Hypha was adamant about her love for the news: “Yes, mon! I watch the news all day.”
In Jamaica, her family owned a small department store. Hypha visited her aunt in New York a few times and decided to live with her. She worked as a bookkeeper and phone operator at a company that made and sold boxes. She met her future husband, William Smatt, at a party in New York. Religion has always been a part of Hypha life. She was a founding member of the Grace Missionary Church in Jamaica and was an active member of Wayside Baptist Church in Kendall for 38 years.
Hypha and her family moved to Miami in 1977. At first, she worked at Burdines in Dadeland Mall and she and her family then opened three shoe stores, two in Town and Country, and one in Kendale Lakes. She loved merchandising, the shoe business and was a good accountant. Hypha worked until she was 94 and it was about this time that she got her dog, Ziggy. She cared for Ziggy like a son. “Ziggy has to be my son in a way in the animal world. Yes, he’s a good dog. He watches over me. Sleeps right beside my foot every night. He’s like a human being.”
After she retired, she stayed active in her house, cooking and learning to use the Internet with the help of her son, Robert. She stopped driving about two years ago. Hypha was predeceased by her husband, William Smatt. She is survived by her two sons; Eddie (Donna) Smatt and Robert (Karen) Smatt; three grandchildren, Justin, Brian and Angela; two dogs, Ziggy and Sophie and great-grandchildren. Two brothers, Ralph Bardowell from Toronto, Canada and Raymond Bardowell from North Carolina and many nieces and nephews.
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