When educator Hilda Marie Smith passed away a week ago, she had the distinction of being Bermuda’ oldest citizen.

And that was just one of many significant features of her remarkable life,

She was 106-plus years of age, having been born October 21, 1907, the only child of a Crawl Hill, Hamilton Parish couple, who died when she was a little child.

Last rites are set for today at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, Shelly Bay, Hamilton Parish.

Affectionately known Island-wide as ‘Aunt Hilda,’ the truth of the matter is she had no siblings, nieces or nephews, but she had ‘tons’ of blood related cousins who adored her and were immensely influenced by her exemplary, multi-faceted life.

For decades she taught in the public school system; at home after regular hours and in Sunday school.

When her parents died Hilda was left in the care of her grandparents, and her mother’s sister, an aunt named Julia.

They trained her in housework, gardening, tending the family chickens, and pitching in preparing onions carrots, boxing parsley and turnips from the family farm for seasonal export to the US.

A committed Christian, she was gifted academically and in music.

Her ambition was to be a nurse, but she was forced to abandon that profession following an injury to her ear.

Hilda was ten years old when she completed primary school.

That accomplishment earned her a job as a monitor at Temperence Hall.

Later she attended the Berkeley Institute and was sent to a vocational school in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

There she attended church, played the piano, the organ as well as the harp and the tenor saxophone.

It was a former pastor at Bethel AME Church. who influenced her schooling in Canada.

She accompanied the pastor and his wife when their Bermuda tenure ended.

She resided with them studying courses that prepared her well for her teaching career upon her return to Bermuda.

Back home, Aunt Hilda taught kindergarten classes for Devil’s Hole and other Smith’s parish children at the Talbot School, which was the only one in Smith’s.

She loved her job immensely and was never absent during the thirty years she spent there.

Nearing retirement at age 65, Government moved her first to Elliot Primary in Devonshire and then St David’s Primary.

Aunt Hilda became associated with the Flatts Pentecostal Assembly teaching with the Trott sisters Mildred and Marjorie; and for fifty years she was the Assembly’s organist.

She became esteemed as a ‘prayer warrior’.

During the past 20 years Aunt Hilda resided at Packwood Home in Somerset.

Initially she played the piano for devotions at the residence between 7.30 and 8am.

Also she played at special weekly services at Packwood and for visiting church groups.

A truly big moment for Aunt Hilda was on November 25, 2009, the date of. the historic visit of The Queen to Bermuda.

She was invited to play the National Anthem when the Queen arrived for grand reception at the Clock Tower in the Dockyard.

One visiting CNN journalist could hardly get over the fact that Hilda was aged 102, and how she even jazzed-up the National Anthem — a bit.

It was while at Packwood she renewed her affiliation with the AME Church, becoming a member of Allen Temple on Sound View Road during the pastorate of Rev Mrs Betty Furbert Woolridge, who is now Presiding Elder of the denomination.

At Bethel during the rites today, it is expected a prominent role will be filled by cousin Dr Shangri-La Durham Thompson.

She is Principal of Prospect Primary School, and much like Hilda a pillar at Bethel.