Maureen N. Smith, 90, of Greenville, passed away on Thursday January 6th in the Hospice Hulitar Center in Providence. She was the wife of the late Richard J. Smith. They had been married for 60 years.
Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Fredrick and Anna (Reilly) Armstrong.
Maureen (more commonly known as “Nana” by many) lived a full and vibrant life for 90 years. Growing up in Mount Pleasant, she was surrounded by her extended Irish family including her parents, her brothers Bobby, “the twins” John and Fred, and aunts and uncles too numerous to mention. They all lived “a couple of streets away.”
Maureen married the love of her life, Richard, in June 1951. They moved to Greenville shortly after and made her home there for 61 years. While raising a loving family, Maureen also worked as a receptionist at Allendale Insurance in Johnston for over 20 years.
Nana was, quite simply, a character. She welcomed visitors into her home with an offer of a Bud Light (and a quick request to get one for her too). She would make a new friend in minutes and enjoyed hearing about their life as much as sharing stories from her own. She enjoyed visiting her grandchildren (wherever they lived), trips to “the track” in Lincoln, and eating at dozens of new breakfast places around RI.
Nana’s home was filled with her kids, grandkids, German Shepherds, and often a new rescue dog to add to the chaos. She was happiest surrounded by the chaos! When Nana needed help in her later years she welcomed Shay Conway and Hope Hospice (particularly Pam) to her family.
She leaves her children, Nancy Franklin and her husband Norman of Warwick, Michael Smith and his wife Jae of West Warwick, Kenneth Smith of Johnston and Richard Smith of Johnston. She was the grandmother of Shannon Linehan and her husband Tom of Warwick, Allison Smith of Warwick, Caitlin Smith of Syracuse NY and Nicole Smith of Washington, DC. She was the step-mother of Maxwell J. Richard of Smithfield. She also leaves a niece, Maureen Hargreaves of Naples Florida and her friend and co-grandmother Eleonore Werbinski of West Warwick.
Maureen (Nana) was well loved and will be sorely missed.
Her Funeral services will be private. A Celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the ASPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 RISPCA