Kathleen Elizabeth Smith passed away peacefully, at age 87, in Prince Albert, SK on April 7, 2015 in the presence of her loving family, eighty-six days after the passing of her husband, Howard Wilson Smith.  Kathleen and Howard Smith celebrated their 69^th wedding anniversary on November 24, 2014.  Kathleen Elizabeth Smith was born in the Lindsay area (Prince Albert), SK to Florence Lee Cook and William Arthur Hodgson on December 4, 1927.  She was the 7^th of 10 children born to Florence Arthur:  Edward, Thomas, Albert, Roderick, Stanley, and Raymond, Mary Lillian, Kathleen and Rose.  Kathleen was all about family and she worked tirelessly to celebrate her large family of siblings and their families.  She recalled their family life living in the bush, returning to MacDowall for school, her closeness to her mother and the war years when her four brothers and two brothers-in-law were gone to war.  She wrote the letters and made the food gift packs which were sent to them each month.  Kathleen went to MacDowall School, achieving her grade 8, and leaving school to begin work as a caregiver for 5 small children of Bill and Margaret Smith.  She was married on November 24, 1945.  Howard and Kathleen lived in several locations near MacDowall, before moving and taking ownership of three quarters of the William/Charlotte Smith homestead.  They raised cattle and grain farmed until they retired from farming in 1974.  Both of Howard’s parents and Kathleen’s mother lived with them on the farm for several years.  Kathleen sat on the MacDowall Housing Board for many years and was most proud of the Senior Living Complex.  She was an active member of the MacDowall Seniors Association and the St. Stephens Anglican Church.  Kathleen was the keeper of family and community history.  She could always provide the stories of the area and she had tremendous respect for the people she had come to know.  She made the effort to listen and to remember the details that matter the most.  Sitting beside her at a family and community function was always a delight, as she knew who was related, who they had married, what they had done for a living and the names of their children.  She knew the geography of her birthplace and between her and dad, they could easily recount long and lovely stories of the MacDowall, Sunbeam Valley, Donnybrook, St. Louis, Horse Lake, Duck Lake, Red Deer Hill, Deer Park, Lily Plain, Clouston and Prince Albert areas.  Her story was intertwined with dad’s and they often recounted the many milestones that they had the privilege of witnessing.  She loved to have the family close by, to share a meal and a game or two.  And every night she said a prayer for every member of her family and for the people in their lives that they held dear.  She said that busy hands made for a happy life and that counting your blessings would take you through the difficult times.  She was trusting and true and loving and kind, a true blessing for all who knew and loved her.  She had many friends, holding all of her brothers and sisters-in-law as nearest and dearest.  She had many joyful hours with her close friends, recalling the day they got electricity, the day that she and dad pushed their new car down the muddy road to show the Kernohans and when she and Jenny and Sylvia went to the bush, taking Jenny’s rising bread with them so they could knead it down in the bush.  She shared many a scrabble game and a laugh with her friend, Kit Lapointe, a friend to the end.  She made everything fun.  Lillian Cook always held a special place in her heart.  Kathleen is survived by her children Linda (Ron) Zsombor, MaryAnn (Jake) Klingler, Barbara (Allen) McKay, Keith (Gail) Smith and Kathy (Gerald) Hodgson-Smith; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren Gian Zsombor (Emerson and Aeraby), Kim (Kevin) Jeffries (Benjamin), Gina (Greig) Johnson (Owen and Lydia), Jody (Tanya) Hanton (Ashley, Jordyn, Taya and Aaliyah), Jared Zsombor, Cari (Frank) Prima (Mason and Katelyn), Bret (Danielle) McKay (Layna), Clinton (Alison) Smith, Kent (Lauren) Vermette (Haley), Kirsty (Brandon) Snowsell (Charlotte, Elliot and Nina), Kyle (Ly) Vermette (Kyri and Nyla), and Joshua Klingler; and her brothers Roderick Hodgson, Stanley Hodgson and Raymond (Gladys) Hodgson.  She was predeceased by her husband Howard Wilson Smith; her parents William Arthur and Florence Lee (nee Cook) Hodgson; her brothers and sisters Edward (Nora) Hodgson, Lillian (Leonard) Smith, Mary (Doug) Mackie, Rose (Paul) Ashby, Albert (Olive) Hodgson, Tom (Ida) Hodgson, (Ruth) Hodgson.  Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13, 2015 at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 260 – 25^th Street East, Prince Albert, SK with Reverend Dr. Norbert Haukenfrers and Archdeacon Andrew Hoskin officiating.  In lieu of other tributes, memorial donations can be made to Royal Canadian Legion, Prince Albert Branch #2 or St. Stephens Anglican Church.  Condolences may be sent to the family at www.grays.ca.  Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Gray’s Funeral Chapel, (306-922-4729).

• Date : 2015-04-07
• Location : Prince Albert, SK