Katherine E. Smith

May 29, 1938 - March 1, 2021

Katherine (Kathy) Elizabeth Smith age 82, formerly of Utica NY passed away Monday March 1, 2021 at UF Health in Leesburg Florida. Born in Moran, Kansas on a train May 29, 1938 Katherine was the daughter of the late Dorothy Pulliam Diffey and the late Thomas Spurier Diffey. She was raised and educated in Kansas City, Missouri before moving to central NY Katherine was a loving, caring individual who always put the needs of others before her own. She was a devout Catholic and before moving to Florida was a member of Historic Old St John’s Church in Utica NY where she was a Eucharistic Minister and a volunteer for various programs such as the intercity Summer program for children, Mother’s group, the annual church bazaar, the Christmas toy drive, and many other church related programs. She had many interests and pastimes in her days including coaching girls in a local softball league, doing the New York Times crossword puzzle in the local newspaper, she loved to play UNO with friends and grandchildren, and more recently had become an animal advocate to end the retail sales of puppies and kittens and shut down puppy mills. She is survived by her children Mary Ann Deveans of Utica NY, Michael & Patty Deveans of Whitesboro NY, Karen & Tim Goppert of Leesburg FL, with whom she resided. She is also survived by her grandchildren; Matthew & Stephanie Siriani of Tavares FL, Alexandra & Cody Cramer of Tavares FL, Tyler Goppert of Leesburg FL, Christopher Marotta of Cocoa FL, Michael & Heather Deveans of Yorkville NY, Brandon & Katie Deveans of Canastota NY, Joshua & Amanda Bracken of Utica NY; great-grandchildren, Tyler, Tanner, Katy, Gavin, Dakota, Angellina, Gaby, Julianna, Jacob, Matty, Joshua, Logan, Hayden, Connor. She is also survived by 2 sisters Monetta Knight of Clinton NY and Judy Nesbit of Independence Missouri as well as many nieces, nephews, great nieces & great nephews. Katherine was predeceased by her husband Robert J Smith Jr. of Utica NY, daughter Kathy Ann (Deveans) Marrotta of Utica NY and granddaughter Ashley Marotta of Cocoa FL. Katherine’s family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks and appreciation to her special NY family, Lillian Mazurowski, Gary Cosimeno, Michael, Heather and Andrew Dover for their never-ending support, friendship, care, and compassion over the years. We would also like to give a special thanks to her long-distance nurse Anna Lucas of Sioux Falls SD who always made her smile and brought much joy into her life. Special thanks to Beverly Smith of Leesburg for your spiritual guidance, unwavering devotion and compassion. You always brightened mom's day and kept her faith strong, bringing her Communion. She enjoyed your company and you eased our anguish during this difficult time. Services for Katherine will be held in Utica NY in the spring, date and time will be announced in the near future. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared on the tribute wall.