Obituary of Mary Frances Smith

Mary Frances (Spallone) Smith, 92, of Big Flats, NY, passed away on Saturday evening, November 19, 2022, surrounded by members of her loving family. Mary Fran was born to Samuel and Catherine (Lagonegro) Spallone in Elmira, NY, on June 3, 1930. The youngest of four children. She was predeceased by her husband of 71 years, Richard H. ("Dick") Smith, Sr. on July 9, 2021. Mary Frances is survived by her ten children, Stephen (Amy) Smith, David (Julie) Smith, Kathleen (James) Leonard, Susan Louiz, Richard H. Smith, Jr., Deborah (John) Dutko, Gregory Smith, MaryBeth (Paul) Then, Samuel (Lorraine) Smith, and Julianne (William) Baldwin, as well as 42 grandchildren and 65 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Renate (Mrs. Joseph) Spallone, Loretta Beebe and Nanacy Drake; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of caring friends. After graduating from Elmira Free Academy in 1947, Mary Fran worked at Moore Business Forms in Elmira. That same year, she had a blind date with Elmira native Dick Smith, who had just returned to the area after serving in the Marine Corps. The romance blossomed, they were married on February 4, 1950, and they proceeded to have and raise their ten children in Big Flats. Once she started having children, Mary Fran stopped working outside the home and concentrated on being a devoted and loving wife and mother in the home. She provided moral and administrative support for her husband in his various patent applications, projects, and business ventures. Mary Fran was also active in "the Club" – a circle of old and close friends and their families. She is survived by fellow Club members Shirley (Carl) Hillman and Nada (Tony) Brunozzi. Mary Fran and her family were long-time parishioners of St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads, NY, where she was a member of the parish's Altar Rosary Society. In one of many moving tributes written by her family, one of her granddaughters posted, "My beautiful, classy, always-outfit-and-jewelry-coordinating, loving, patient, kind, faithful Grandma gained her wings last night. While I am selfishly sad to not have her here on earth anymore, I am so grateful and lucky to have had her in my life for 39 years and to have my children experience so many great times with such an amazing Great Grandmother." A Mass of Celebration will be held at St. Mary Our Mother Church in Horseheads at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 3, 2022, followed by the internment at Rural Home Cemetery in Big Flats. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in Mary Frances Smith's memory to St. Mary Our Mother Church, 816 West Broad Street, Horseheads, NY 14845. Arrangements are entrusted to the LYNCH FUNERAL HOME 318 WEST BROAD STREET HORSEHEADS, NY. Words of Condolence and memories may be shared at www.lynchsfuneralhome.com