Sister Mary Clare Smith, CSJ

SISTER MARY CLARE SMITH, CSJ

Sister Mary Clare (Zita Margaret) Smith, daughter of the late Herbert J. and Mary Hickey Smith, died at Mount St. Joseph on Sunday, January 10, 2016.  She was born December 29, 1922, in Richwood, West Virginia, where she attended Holy Family School and Richwood High School.  She entered the Congregation of St. Joseph on February 2, 1953.

Sister Mary Clare received an AB degree from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She worked in the Medical Records Department at Wheeling Hospital for twenty years between 1955 and 1981, including several years as the Director of the department.  She was Secretary for the Wheeling congregation from 1982 to 1985, was Assistant to the Treasurer from 1985 to 1989, and served as Pastoral Minister to the sick/infirm sisters at Mount St. Joseph from 1989 to 1999.  She was a member of the General Council from 1976 to 1982 and also served on several congregational boards and committees.  As she celebrated her 60th Jubilee in 2013, she shared that “she enjoyed being a Sister of St. Joseph for the last 60 years.”

In addition to her parents, Sister Mary Clare was preceded in death by her brothers Lawrence, James, and Patrick L. Smith and her sisters Amy and Anne Smith.  She is survived by many nieces, nephews, friends, and members of her community.

Family and friends will be received from 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 13, at Mount St. Joseph, 137 Mount St. Joseph Road, Wheeling, where Vigil Services will be held at 7:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 14, in the Mount St. Joseph Chapel with Fr. Don Serva, SJ, as celebrant.  Interment will be in the Sisters of St. Joseph section at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Congregation of St. Joseph – Wheeling Center, 137 Mount St. Joseph Road, Wheeling, WV 26003.  Funeral arrangements by Altmeyer Funeral Home, Fourteenth and Eoff Streets, Wheeling.