Patricia Ann Smith

Patricia Ann Smith, age 82, of Appleton, WI, passed away Tuesday, August 29, 2023.

Patricia was born on May 17, 1941, in South Bend, IN. She was the only child of Clem and Honorata (Kolesiak) Rudynski and attended St. Joseph High School in South Bend, IN. She married Arthur Smith of Greenwood, IN on October 2, 1971. She worked as a secretary at St. Paul Insurance in South Bend, IN and as a teller at Mendota First State Bank in Mendota, IL. 

Her greatest joy was loving and serving her family- her husband, kids, grandkids and great grandkids. Passionate about sewing, she was an active member of the Crafty Ladies of St. Bernard’s Catholic Parish since the early 2000’s. Skillfully and lovingly, she created a quilt for each of her ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren, weaving her heart into the fabric of their lives.

Surviving are her husband of 51 years, Arthur Smith of Appleton, WI; her daughter Colleen (William) Murray of Menasha, WI; daughter-in-law, Debra Everly of Bloomington, IL; ten grandchildren: Nathaniel (Claire) Murray of Minneapolis, MN; Zachary (Lauren) Murray of Brookfield, WI; Eric (Lacy) Murray of Centerville, SD; Matthew (Emily) Everly of Bloomington, IL, Ryan (Anna) Everly of Lakewood, CO, Joshua Everly of Bethalto, IL, Jacob, Zachary, Sophia and Katelyn Everly of Bloomington, IL; four great grandchildren: Olivia and Theo Everly of Bloomington, IL; Liam Murray of Minneapolis, MN; Nora Murray of Brookfield, WI. Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Honorata Rudynski, and her son, Shawn Everly. 

A visitation will be held at St. Bernard Catholic Parish at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 14, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 3:00 pm. Memorial donations can be sent to St. Bernard’s Catholic Parish, 1617 W. Pine Street, Appleton, WI. or online at St. Bernard Online Giving. If you are unable to attend the funeral in person, you can watch online: Livestream Funeral Mass. 

Simple kindness, contagious joy and faith in Jesus marked Patricia’s life. Despite her medical challenges over the years, she kept positive and hopeful, proclaiming, “I’ve been so blessed in my life.”