Mrs Smith served the Bass electorate in the House of Representatives for one term from 1993 and for six years in the Tasmanian Legislative Council for Windermere.

She was born in Wivenhoe in 1939 and started her teaching career in 1959 where she was involved in primary school, adult and TAFE education until 1988.

She raised a family with two daughters, Tamsyn and Bindi, with her husband Jack in Launceston.

Tamsyn Smith said it was there her parents established their home as a family group home for children in need or short-term accommodation or care.

"We were always in a house with up to six or seven other kids," she said.

"A couple of the girls who were in the home still called my parents mum and dad and were still in contact until they died."

Ms Smith said her mother entered politics from an ambition to do more for her community.

Mrs Smith was elected as part of the Keating Labor Government until the party lost power in a landslide loss to the Liberals in 1996.

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Ms Smith said her mother felt she had unfinished business in politics which compelled her to stand in the Legislative Council elections a year later.

She sat in the chamber as an Independent Labor member until she lost her seat to current independent member Ivan Dean in 2003.

Ms Smith said her mother was not one for grandstanding or making unsubstantiated promises but loved to chase funding for community groups or arrange meetings with ministers and her constituents.

"For her the small wins were always the most important," she said.

Ms Smith said her mother continued to participate in various community roles in her retirement but kept an eye on politics.

"Up until recently, she'd have an opinion on various people in various parties," she said.

"She would tell you who she liked, who she didn't like, and why."

Ms Smith said her mother had battled Parkinson's disease for 15 years ago up until her death.

A memorial service is planned for Mrs Smith in Launceston in the coming months.

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