PAVILION, NY - Mary Smith, age 91, a former resident of Shawnee, NY, entered into the glory of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, December 17. She was born in Parry Sound, Ontario, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (McLean) Hannon. She was predeceased by her husband, William W. Smith, and her son, Raymond J. Smith, and siblings Joseph Hannon, Betty Atkinson, Edith Watkinson, Alice Newton, Bernice Byrnes, Retta Sword, Jean Watkinson, Helen Forbes and Blanche Hannon. Surviving are her siblings, Peter Hannon, Orrville, Ontario and Doris Brown, Parry Sound, Ontario, her children Catherine (John) Socha of Pavilion, NY, Craig (Cindy) Smith of Sanborn, NY, and Janet (Darryl) Crawford of Ellijay, GA., four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
God blessed her with a musical ability she used to bring joy to her parents and siblings when she drew them together in song as she played piano. As a teenager she was organist at the United Church and the Anglican Church in her hometown of Orrville, Ontario. She studied piano and teaching at the Toronto Conservatory of Music.
She joined the Royal Canadian Air Force Women’s Division serving as a stenographer and was a veteran of World War II. At one time she worked as a stenographer for a publishing company. In the summers she worked at fishing resorts in the wild of Ontario.
She was married on September 4, 1948 in Niagara Falls, Ontario and then established a home in the area of Shawnee near Sanborn, NY in 1948 where she lovingly raised four children. Her children will always remember her great love for them. She taught piano lessons in her home. She was member, soloist, and organist at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ at Shawnee for many years. After her husband’s retirement, they moved to Harlingen, TX where they lived until 1999. They lived in Lockport for a short time. She lived in Pavilion, NY from 2002 to the present.
Mary enjoyed listening to many kinds of music—opera, classical, popular. Among her favorites–Frank Sinatra and the Lawrence Welk Show. In her earlier years she was a great hockey fan. In retirement she enjoyed watching tennis, golf, and was a big NY Yankees fan. She enjoyed playing euchre. She loved God’s creation and loved taking long walks in the countryside. She was a lovely and well-liked woman who enjoyed the company of others. Even those who didn’t know her well called her a sweetheart.
She attended Living Waters Church in Le Roy, NY through which she received the Lord as her Savior on Sunday, November 13, 2011.
A private graveside service will be held at the convenience of the family. A memorial service is planned for the Spring or the Summer. Flowers are gratefully declined. Memorials may be made to Living Waters Church Renovation Fund or to St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Shawnee, Choir Fund.