Patricia Joan Smith

Patricia (Pat) Joan Smith, age 87 of Williams Bay, Wisconsin, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024. Pat was born August 21, 1937 to Lawrence and Helen (Manville) Milfred in Cazenovia, Wisconsin.

Pat married Mitchell Smith on July 28, 1956 in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Pat and Mitch had 68 loving years together and raised two daughters.

She will be greatly missed by her husband, Mitch; children, Lisa Carey and Laura Smith; grandchildren, Shannon (Scott Burton) Carey, Sean Carey, and Colin (Elizabeth) Carey; great-grandchildren, Elise, Sullivan, and Isla Carey and Isaac and Rhys Burton; and sister, Bonnie Pickett.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and siblings, Kathleen Cornwall, Peter Milfred and Clarence Milfred.

A lifelong Catholic, Pat was a member of St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lake Geneva and served as an officer in the Catholic Daughters of America. She founded a prayer chain group for special intentions that is still active today. Pat had a particular devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Pat and Mitch volunteered at the Lake Geneva Community Meal, and they distributed Holy Communion to residents of Lakeland Health Care Center for 25 years.

Pat loved reading and kept a list of books that she had completed numbering over 1000. She was employed by the Lake Geneva Public Library as a librarian for many years. A long-time member of the Friends of the Library, she and Mitch volunteered at the annual book sale and other library events.

An avid traveler, she visited many US states and other countries. Proud of her Irish heritage and devoted to all things Irish, she journeyed to Ireland six times.

For fun, Pat enjoyed listening to music and attending musical and theatre performances. She golfed and played cards including participating for many years in the St. Francis Bridge Marathon.

Pat cherished her connections with friends and family and was a supportive presence at many athletic events, concerts and plays. She was often the person who organized outings and get-togethers with friends and planned regular visits to relatives. She was a loving wife, mom, grandma and great-grandma and was a friend to many.

During her long battle with dementia, Pat fought bravely every step of the way. She will be remembered for her courage and for her beautiful smile that said so much.

The family would like to thank the staff of Lakeland Health Care Center for their loving care.

A private family memorial will be held.

Donations can be made to the Lake Geneva Public Library.

918 W Main St.

Lake Geneva, WI 53147

(262) 249-5299

lglibrary.org

Lazarczyk Family Funeral Homes of Lake Geneva is proudly serving the family.