Catherine "Kitty" Yore Smith

Catherine Yore Smith, known to her friends and family as simply “Kitty” died peacefully on January 6. (Her 16-year old son, Adam, died on the same date in 1997.) Her husband of 51 years, Judge Loren Smith, and son, Loren Smith, Jr. were at her side. She was 79.

Kitty was born in Chicago to George and Mary Jane Yore in 1944. She attended St. Catherine of Siena grade school in Oak Park, Illinois, and later St. Luke Catholic school in River Forest, Illinois. At age 7, she began to learn ballet, and performed in several ballet recitals. She also had roles in upper school grade school plays including Cinderella and Snow White.

Throughout grade school she was active in the Girl Scouts; and in high school became a Mariner Girl Scout. She attended Trinity High School, a Catholic girls’ school in River Forest, Illinois. She was a 1966 graduate of the all-women Rosary College (now Dominican University) also in River Forest, where she majored in English and minored in science. She excelled at her studies. She was fortunate to be there before the college eliminated the study of St. Thomas Aquinas’s writings.

She had jobs at Rosary College, the Furniture Mart of Chicago, Marshall Fields department store, and the Farm Journal. After graduation she worked for the prominent advertising agency, Kenyon and Eckhart. She was an avid skier, and an active member of a ski club in the Chicago area.

In 1972, she married Loren A. Smith, a graduate of Northwestern Law School. They moved to Arlington, Virginia, for several years until Loren was offered a teaching position at the Delaware Law School where they lived for several years. In the meantime they were blessed with two sons, Loren Jr. in 1977 and Adam in 1980. In 1981, Loren was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as Chairman of the Administrative Conference. In 1985, he was appointed a judge by Reagan to serve in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, a position he continues to hold today.

Kitty enjoyed being the wife of a judge with the opportunities to meet many interesting and prominent

people in Washington. D.C. She was a great conversationalist. One was never bored when talking with her.

Kitty’s main passion was a love for music. She enjoyed going to live performances of many different types of musical expression, including Irish songs. She was of Irish descent, and relished all things Irish. In addition, she enjoyed gardening, was a great cook, a delightful dinner companion, and a loyal friend.

Kitty played the piano and sang in several choirs including Washington Capella Antiqua, a schola directed by Patrick Jacobson, which conducted many services with various forms of ancient chant, including Gregorian and Ambrosian, in addition to providing music for the traditional Latin Mass. For a time she also was in the St. Charles Catholic Church choir and the St. Agnes Catholic Church choir. She went to England and Italy with choir groups to sing in famous cathedrals and churches.

In recent years she had many health challenges, all of which she bore with grace and dignity. Despite suffering with many ailments, she remained cheerful and forward-thinking, always hopeful for the future.

She is survived by her husband, Loren, and son, Loren Jr. (Holly), sister, Ellen Yore, and many cousins. She was the proud grandmother of nine grandchildren: Maria, Loren III, Annabella, Maximus, Aquinas, Vincent, Camille, Connor, and Zachary, all of whom are missing her.

May Kitty Smith rest in peace.

A visitation will be held Friday, January 12th at Murphy Funeral Home in Arlington from 5PM - 9PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Saturday, January 13th at St. Philip Catholic Church in Falls Church, VA, followed by a reception at Ireland's Four Provinces in Falls Church. Burial will occur Saturday, January 20th at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Holy Family Academy, 10580 Pineview Rd, Manassas, VA 20111.