Anita Vance studied English literature at Smith College, even though she planned to become a nurse after graduation, and then she changed her mind when a professor at Smith suggested she become a doctor.

In 1958, she entered Harvard Medical School, from which the first women had graduated just nine years earlier, and became a psychiatrist who specialized in clinical counseling. In that field, friends say, her lifelong love of reading had a strong influence on her work as a therapist.

“It was very clear that studying English literature was excellent training for her,’’ said Ann Watts, a friend since childhood who graduated from Yale University with a doctorate in English literature. “It awakens the mind to very different points of view and different ways of suffering, as well as enduring whatever life throws at you.’’

Watts added that Dr. Vance “was deeply sympathetic and always very welcoming to others,’’ and that her progression from English major to medical student was “a very natural fit.’’

Dr. Vance, who during her career also was a staff member at Boston-area health care facilities, died of lung cancer March 28. She was 78 and lived at The Jefferson retirement community in Arlington, Va.

She and her husband, Verne, moved to Arlington from Newton after Dr. Vance suffered a stroke while they were visiting their son, Chip, at his Arlington home last summer.

Along with running a private practice, Dr. Vance worked at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, Waltham Hospital, and the Arbour Hospital.

“When people asked her what was her specialty, she would say that her specialty was people who liked to talk,’’ her husband said. “She was very into talk therapy.’’

Although Dr. Vance’s career was an important part of her life, she effectively balanced it with being a mother, her son said. She spent one-on-one time with each of her three children, said Chip Vance,who recalled that she often picked him up from school on Tuesdays to treat him to pizza.

She also passed on her love of literature to her children. “She was always reading, and always reading to us and encouraging us to read on our own,’’ her son said.

In particular, she enjoyed science fiction and fantasy, and “probably read each one of the Tolkien books 30 or 40 times in her life,’’ he said. “She was a great one for revisiting her favorite books periodically, in addition to expanding her list of new books.’’

Dr. Vance played a Steinway piano she had inherited from her mother, and also enjoyed singing. She and Verne entertained often at their home in the Chestnut Hill part of Newton and nearly each year hosted parties at Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day.

“She grew up in a very musical family,’’ her son said. “Singing and playing piano were very big parts of her life. She played piano beautifully, sang to us at bedtime, and performed with the church choir.’’

Anita Paine was born in New York City, the oldest child of Hebard Paine and the former Elizabeth Sturgis. She graduated from the Emma Willard School in Troy, N.Y., in 1954. Four years later, she received a bachelor’s degree from Smith and then enrolled in Harvard Medical School, from which she graduated in 1962.

Her son said she “was pretty matter of fact’’ about being among the early women to graduate from Harvard Medical School, adding that “she never treated it like it was a big deal.’’

Dr. Vance was devoted to her patients, her husband said. He recalled a Red Sox game in the late 1970s when she missed seeing a three-run homer by Carl Yastrzemski because she stepped away from her seat to speak with a patient by phone.

“She bonded very much with her patients,’’ he said. “Many of them continued writing her letters long after their therapy stopped. They were thankful for her help.’’

Dr. Vance, who was known among friends and family for a speaking voice that recalled the actress Katharine Hepburn, met Verne Vance through mutual friends. They became engaged six weeks later and married in 1970. “I immediately knew she was the one,’’ he said.

He was a lawyer in Boston and served as alderman-at-large and School Committee member in Newton.

When he ran for office, Dr. Vance was the treasurer for his campaigns. She also was active in her children’s schools and volunteered at city elections.

A service has been held for Dr. Vance, who in addition to her husband and son leaves two daughters, Lisa Castleton of Los Angeles and Virginia Ruff of Boise, Idaho; a sister, Margaret Hasselman of San Francisco; a brother, Frank Paine of Center Sandwich, N.H.; and three grandchildren.

Her brother said Dr. Vance’s personality led her to become a psychotherapist.

“She was very caring,’’ Frank recalled. “More than any of us, she was an outgoing person. She wanted to meet people and get to know them. She always wanted to reach out and help people.’’

Kathleen McKenna can be reached at kmck66@verizon.net.