Smith, Patricia Joan

Patricia Joan Smith, of Lakewood, Colo., formerly of Cedar Rapids, was born May 29, 1935, and passed away peacefully on Dec. 7, 2011, with family at her bedside. A celebration of Pat's life will be held in the summer of 2012.

Pat was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Patrick and Francis Crilly. The family relocated to Illinois when Pat was in her teens. She was a graduate of St. Francis School of Nursing in Peoria, Ill. Pat met and married William “Bill” Smith in 1957. She put her nursing career on hold to raise their eight children.

The Smiths moved to Cedar Rapids in 1965 and over the years made many friends. Following Bill's death in 1978, Pat resumed her nursing career and always enjoyed caring for patients. She retired to Florida in 1998 to be near her sister and the ocean which she always loved. In 2004, she moved to Lakewood, Colo., to be closer to her children.

Pat was a special person. She had a keen sense of humor, a quick wit and was always willing to express her opinion.

Survivors include her children, Joan (Smith) and Robert Bartlet of Mount Vernon, Jill (Smith) and Robert Atmar of Houston, Texas, Jack Smith of Marion, Janet (Smith) and Mike Glass of Woodinville, Wash., Jim and Arlene Smith of Littleton, Colo., Peg (Smith) Alatolo of Central City, Beth (Smith) and Andy Gholson of Evergreen, Colo., and Karen Smith of Evergreen, Colo.; sister, Marilynn Lee of Punta Gorda, Fla.; 16 grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Patrick and Francis Crillly; and her husband, William Thomas Smith.

She will be missed by many.

The Smith family would like to thank the staff of the Life Care Center of Evergreen and Evergreen Hospice for the kindness, compassion, and support they provided to our family over the past several months.

Published Dec. 22, 2011, in The Gazette