Maureen Smith

Maureen Catherine Smith, age 84, of Swartz Creek, passed away peacefully at home on the Holy Day of Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023, just after her daughter recited the Lord’s Prayer and Hail Mary Prayer with her and then reading the Ash Wednesday sermon out of her Magnificat; “remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return”. A visitation will be held on Friday, March 3, 2023, starting at 2PM until the Vigil Service at 6PM at Sharp Funeral Home, 8138 Miller Road in Swartz Creek. Visitation will resume on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at 10AM until the time of the Funeral Mass at 11AM at St. Vianney Catholic Church, 2415 Bagley Street in Flint. Maureen will be laid to rest at a later date at New Calvary Catholic Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Catholic Community of Flint www.flintcatholic.org or IHM Sisters www.ihmsisters.org. Online condolences can be shared at: www.sharpfuneralhomes.com.

Maureen was born on September 5, 1938, in Flint, Michigan to the late Doria & Gladys Gagnon. She graduated in 1956 from St. Michael’s Catholic High School. She furthered her education by earning her bachelor's and master's degrees in secondary education. She married the love of her life Richard Smith at St. Michael's Catholic Church on November 24, 1956. Nine years later they started their family with their first-born son, Patrick; second born son Paul and only daughter Mary-Catherine whom they raised together until his passing. Her first employment before her teaching positions was as secretary at St. Michael's Catholic Church. She was a teacher for the Flint Community School District at Northwestern High School, Flint Academy and Genesee Area Skill Center where she taught courses in accounting, computing, and data processing and retired in 2000. Maureen was a strong woman of faith and spent much of her free time volunteering at church preparing and serving funeral dinners. She was a great conversationalist and loved talking to everyone she encountered. She made many friends during her lifetime as she never met a stranger. Maureen's fondest memories were those spent with her family as she cherished them the most.

She is survived by her three amazing children, Patrick Vincent (Kimberly) Smith, Paul David (Karla) Smith and Mary Kay (Cepeda) Smith-Hairston; three grandchildren whom she adored, Cepeda Laquan Hairston II, Sydney Kay Smith and Zachary Paul Smith; sister, Mary Ann (John) Palacios; sisters-in-law, Betty Gagnon and Maureen Gagnon. She is further survived by a host of nieces and nephews whom she loved profoundly. She is survived by her dear friends; Sharon Lavasseur, Judy Gansen, Marylu Eve, Dianna Johnson, Dorothy Hairston, Gayla Williams, Barbara Moore, Kelley Warchol-Gregg and many other dear family members and friends too numerous to list but never forgotten.

In addition to her parents, Doria & Gladys she was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; her siblings, Mark (Barb) Gagnon, Norman Gagnon, Joan (Duane) Sutton, Richard Gagnon and Maurice (Helen) Gagnon.

The family would like to thank all our family and friends for your sincere love and support during our time of bereavement. A special thanks to Hurley Medical Center Emergency Department Social Workers and Medical Staff and the staff at Heart to Heart Hospice for all their support.