Elizabeth Jane Scranton

Elizabeth Jane Scranton, age 85, of Stoneham, formerly of Wakefield, passed away on March 20, 2026, at Winchester Hospital. Born on October 24, 1940, she was the daughter of the late Warren and Julia (McMahon) Downie.

Elizabeth was born and raised in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn English High School. A longtime resident of Wakefield, she raised her family in the close-knit neighborhood of Cedar Place, which held a special place in her heart. After the passing of her husband, Earl, she moved to a condominium in Stoneham. Wherever she lived, Elizabeth’s home was always adorned with gardens, flowers, and plants. Known for her green thumb, she could name any flower, and her love for gardening was evident in the beautiful flowers hanging from her porch and the potted plants in her windows.

Elizabeth began her career at Transitron in the 1970s, where she met Earl Scranton, whom she later married. She continued her professional journey at Analog Devices as a Quality Control Inspector and remained there until her retirement, valuing both her work and the lasting relationships she built with colleagues.

She was the beloved wife of the late Earl Scranton and the loving mother of Deborah Huntzberry of Stoneham, James Smith and his wife Rebecca of Sutton, and the late Kevin Smith and his surviving wife Jackie of Salem, NH. Elizabeth was the sister of the late Warren Downie and Margaret McAuley. Cherished as “Nanny” to her six grandchildren—Christopher, Catelyn, Abigail, Connor, Lindsay, and Kevin—as well as to eight great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, her family meant the world to her. She is also survived by her former husband, James Smith, and his wife Dianne of Reading.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield on Wednesday, March 25 at 10am. Visitation for relatives and friends at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Tuesday, March 24 from 3-6pm. Interment, Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.