Olive M. (Houtman) Smith, 91, of New Bedford died Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at St. Luke's Hospital after a long illness. She was the wife of the late David A. Smith.

Born in New Bedford, daughter of the late Albert O. Houtman, Sr. and Inez M. (Alves) Spencer, she lived in New Bedford all of her life.

Olive was a member of the Christian Fellowship Center in New Bedford, where she also served as a greeter and adult Sunday school teacher.

She was formerly employed as a secretary at the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain and then at the Division of Employment Security in New Bedford. She later worked as a cafeteria worker for New Bedford Public Schools until her retirement.

Olive was a woman of faith and loved talking about God, reading her Bible, attending Bible study, and was one of the first Deaconesses in the New Bedford area.  She also enjoyed crossword puzzles, cooking, dancing, and was a phenomenal seamstress, often making clothing for her children and nieces as a hobby.

She is survived by two daughters, Juanita Teixeira and her fiancé Basilio Santiago, and Linda Kemp; her brother, Albert Houtman, Jr.; her sister, Patricia Jackson; 4 grandchildren, Tauri, Duane, Ray, and Brandon; 8 great-grandchildren, Duane, Jr., Saivona, Lela, Evan, Kaiden, Peyton, Braelyn, and McKenna; 2 great-great-grandchildren, Carle and Cairo; and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by two daughters, Carleatha "Pat" Nichols and Nadine Kemp; her grandson, Ross Hernandez; and her brother, Floyd L. Houtman.

Her Funeral Service will be held Monday, April 1, 2024 at 11 AM in the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be Monday from 9-11 AM, prior to the service. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.