Edith L. (Roud) Smolens a teacher and community activist in Melrose where she lived for 55 years died peacefully at home on April 12, 2018. Loving wife of the late Irving Smolens and beloved mother of Karen Smolens & loving partner Robert McCarthy and the late Joanne Smolens. Dear sister of the late Richard Roud. She also leaves loving nieces and nephews Barbara Berger & her husband Stephen Patten, David Berger and his partner Robert Vargas, Jonathan and Jeremy Smolens and Sarah Berger-Patten Edith also leaves her cousin Henrietta Dilyock.

Edith worked tirelessly throughout her life for the rights and the dignity of all human beings through her work on the Melrose Human Rights Commission, Melrose Interfaith and other community organizations and imparted these values to the 4th and 5th grade students she taught at the Winthrop School in Melrose for 25 years.

Edith loved being a teacher. She believed in giving back to the community she called home. She served as President of the Melrose Community Council. As member of the League of Women Voters of Melrose, she served as Chair of the Nominating Committee and the Joan Moore Scholarship Committee. She was member of the first Human Rights Commission, and founder and long-time organizer of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Dinner; She worked to bring METCO to Melrose and started the yearly International Welcome Reception at the Lincoln School. She was also a long-time member of Melrose Interfaith and Temple Beth Shalom. Edith was a member of the Bridge, serving on its Board for many years. She was also involved in starting the original Odyssey of the Mind program promoting the work of gifted and talented children in the city of Melrose. A life-long Democrat she was an active member of the Democratic City Committee.

Edith loved her family, her home and the city where she lived for 55 years. In December 2013, Edith and Irving, her husband, were awarded the Key to the City Melrose in gratitude for their many years of service to the community.

Services will be held at Goldman Funeral Chapel, 174 Ferry Street (off Route 60), Malden on Sunday, April 15 at 11:00 am. Shiva visiting hours at her residence on Sunday and Monday, from 2–9 PM. Minyans each evening at 7PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the MHS Permanent Scholarship Fund in the name of Joanne Smolens www.mhsfund.org, Temple Beth Shalom, Melrose, or the Melrose Public Library.