Irma D. Small, widow of Dr. Robert W. Small, passed away peacefully on January 10, 2017.

Born in Danbury, OH on March 1, 1926, she was the daughter of John D. and Lydia Marie (Kihlken) Dayton.

She graduated from Danbury High School and the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western University, Cleveland, OH. During World War II, she served as a cadet nurse.

After the war, she worked at University Hospital, in Cleveland, until she moved to McLean, Virginia to be with her widowed sister and her three very young children. She worked at Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. There, she met her husband, Robert, a medical student. They were married in October 1953 and moved to Worcester, MA for Dr. Small's internship and residency at Worcester City Hospital. While in Worcester, she worked as an intravenous nurse.

She moved to New Bedford in 1956 when her husband began his practice in family medicine. During her years in New Bedford, she worked as a Red Cross nurse, and for many years volunteered as a school nurse at Bishop Stang High School. After her youngest child started college in 1982, she worked at St. Luke's Hospital in the Ambulatory Surgery Unit until her retirement in 1997.

She was a member of the New Bedford Mother's Club for many years and a member and volunteer at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. She liked to read, and loved seeing new places while traveling with her husband.

In the fall of 2015, she moved to Vermont close to her daughter Jeanne.

She is survived by her children, Carol O'Connor of Marblehead, MA, Anne Marie Podd, of Glen Rock, NJ, Jeanne Ball of Hanover, NH, and David Small of Barrington, RI.

She had thirteen grandchildren Laura O'Connor, Ryan O'Connor, Robert W. Small, III, Andrew Small, Christopher Small, Catherine Small, Emily Podd, Rebecca Podd, Katherine Ball, Victoria Ball, Teddy Small and Jane Small.

She was the predeceased by her son Dr. Robert W. Small, Jr., a grandson Nicholas Ball, and her sister Eda Miller of McLean, VA.

She leaves a sister, Marjorie Braithwaite of Middleburgh Heights, OH and a brother, Lloyd Dayton of Port Clinton, OH, and several nieces and nephews.

Her family was the center of her life. She was a kind, loving and giving person who always took great care of her family and others.

Her Funeral Service will be held on Saturday January 21, 2017 at 9:30 AM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Neediest Families Fund, c/o Standard-Times, 25 Elm St., New Bedford, MA 02740. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.