Obituary of Jo Ann Smith

Jo Ann Catherine Smith, wife, mother, artist, book reader, and a lifelong area resident of Pleasant Valley, NY, passed away on July 21st, 2023. Born February 4th, 1951 in Poughkeepsie, NY, she was the daughter of William Joseph and Josephine Ann (McIntyre) Kinane, both deceased. On August 31st, 1974, she married Bruce D. Smith in Pleasant Valley, NY.

She is survived by her husband Bruce; daughter Rebekkah Sarah Smith Aldrich and her husband Adam of Hudson, NY; her older son, Zachariah Maturin Smith and his husband William Daup of Burnham, PA; and her younger son, Nathaniel Kinane Smith and his wife, Terian Koscik of Berkley, CA. She is also survived by her older sister Ann Elizabeth (Nancy) Harwood and her husband Hugh (SC); and three brothers, William Joseph (Bill) Kinane and his wife Kristy (OR), John James Kinane (ME), and James Brian (Jim) Kinane and his wife Valentina (ME). She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her older sister, Catherine Ann (Kitty) Kinane. 

Jo Ann was a 1969 graduate of Franklin D. Roosevelt High School, Hyde Park, NY. She worked outside of the home for Western Publishing as a keypunch operator from 1969-1974 and from 2006 to 2016 she worked as a teacher’s aide at Cardinal Hayes Day School in Millbrook, NY. In the interval she dedicated her life to raising and nurturing her children and supporting her husband in his work. Jo Ann was a long-time, active volunteer in the Pleasant Valley community.

Jo Ann was a talented and prolific artist, painting murals in civic spaces such as the Pleasant Valley Library and the Pleasant Valley Post Office. She painted portraits of all students enrolled at the Cardinal Hayes Day School in 2016. Jo Ann loved giving hand-painted gifts to family and friends as well as donating her art work to raise funds for good causes. 

There are no calling hours. In keeping with her wishes her funeral services will be private, for immediate family only. 

Jo Ann’s family respectfully requests that memorial donations be made in Jo Ann’s name to your local public library.