Smith, E. Joseph

ALBANY- Eugene Joseph Smith, 86, died on July 11, 2016, at St. Peter’s Hospital surrounded by his loving family. A native of Albany, N.Y., he was born in 1929 to the late Marion (Steller) and Joseph E. Smith. Joe graduated from St. Theresa of Avila Grammar School and Christian Brothers Academy. He also attended Siena College and Russell Sage College. Joe worked in New York State service for 42 years retiring in 1991 as Director of Licensing for the New York State Insurance Department. An active member of St. Teresa of Avila parish in Albany, he was a past president of the Parish Council, a Parish Trustee and was involved in many parish ministries including its Engaged Couple Marriage Preparation program and as a Eucharistic Minister and, in retirement, as an adult altar server. Joe was a kind and gentle man whose deep faith in God and devotion to his family were the focus of his life. He was an ardent, life-long Red Sox fan and an avid reader. He cherished his summer vacations at Silver Lake in the Adirondacks with all of his children and grandchildren.

Joe was predeceased by his loving and devoted wife of nearly sixty-five years, Mary E.(Roche) Smith, his dear son Brian J. Smith and his sister Eleanor Dunning. He is survived by his beloved sons Michael Smith of Delmar, N.Y. whose wife Martha was Joe’s primary caregiver, and Gary Smith of Erie, P.A. He was “Pa” to eleven grandchildren: Abigail (Brendan), Kevin (Kylie), Owen (Julie), Michael Jr., Corey (Anna), Clinton (Amanda), Leigh Anne (Matthew), Brian Jr. (Jillian), Sean (Tracy), Elizabeth and Patrick, and to fifteen great-grandchildren: Clare, Ella, Braeden, Caroline, Maddox, Mary, Alexander, Cole, Patrick, Mason, Anderson, Wesley, Mallory, Quinn and Sean. Also survived by his niece Megan McKernan, nephew Mark Dunning and former daughters-in-law Barbara Smith and Joanne Smith.

The family would like to extend sincere appreciation to the caring staff at St. Peter’s Hospital 5 Brady Farrell and at Community Hospice at the Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with his family on Wednesday, July 20th from 4-7 pm in the Daniel Keenan Funeral Home Inc., 490 Delaware Ave, Albany.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, July 21st at 10:30am in the Parish of Mater Christi, 40 Hopewell Street, Albany N.Y. Interment will follow the Mass in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Community Hospice, Gift Processing Center, 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208 or the Capital City Rescue Mission, 259 S. Pearl St., P.O. Box 1999, Albany, NY 12202.