Patricia was born in Corcoran California on October 1st, 1957, She also lived in Shafter and Bakersfield before moving with her family to Stockton in 1975.
Patricia worked as a counselor at Victor Learning Center, then as a secretary for the Diocese of Stockton. She was also a Youth Ministry Leader at St. Edward’s Church for many years. Her kind and loving heart helped many young people during her time volunteering and won her lifelong friends. While working in Youth Ministry she met Jerry Smith. They were married on Sept. 19th, 1992 at St. Edward’s Church, by 4 Priests, just to make sure it would stick!
Generous with her time, Patricia and her husband continued working with the St. Edwards and St. Luke's Youth Groups. They coached Franklin Girls softball teams and joined the Northern California Alaskan Malamute Dog club. The friends she made over the years will always remember her wonderful, kind, and fun loving personality. Patricia was a person of faith, and an honest and true friend.
She and her mother in-law, Sally Smith, were members of the Jolly Junkers. They enjoyed searching and shopping at boutiques, garage sales and estate sales for hidden treasures together. Patricia was a loving daughter and sister in-law to the Smith clan. She loved being a part of their family.
Her favorite holiday was Halloween and she was The Queen! Since the passing of her mother in-law Sally, Pat has made the Smith Family Christmas’ Colorful, Joyful and Festive. Oh how she would decorate for the holidays!
Patricia loved her husband and took great care of him. She was an amazing wife and an extraordinary homemaker, being extremely gifted when it came to rearranging and decorating her home. She loved to spend time with Judy (Wilma), playing Gin and sometimes Scrabble. Pat enjoyed going camping and on day trips up to the Hills with the family. She was a wonderful cook and crafter, and was talented at making the family’s memory quilts.
She loved their fur family, Oso, Gracie, Fiona, Sean, Jacob, Kia, Bud, Nika, Chato, Tahoe, BJ, Tuco, Obie, The King Louie and Angel Darling. Patricia did all the grooming for their dogs so that Jerry could show them for their kennel, Cabin Fever.
She made her house feel like home to everyone. To her family she will always be the one and only Auntie!! That one word means so much to us. All her nieces and nephews spent time in her care and were welcomed lovingly. We will miss her home cooked family dinners, her thoughtfulness, her big hugs, her listening ears, and her loving open heart. We will miss her holiday and birthday cards, phone calls and text messages. We are all blessed to have known her.
Patricia is survived by her husband Jerry Smith, Isabel Martinez (mother), her sister, Judy Villanueva, her brother in law, Mike Villanueva and 3 other sisters.
She is predeceased by Rudy Martinez (father), her brother, John Martinez, his wife Bernice and her nieces Christina and Ashley Martinez.
Loving Auntie to Jessica, Denise, Christopher, Michael Joel, Michelle “sister”, George, Rudy, Toni, Maggie, Veronica, Andrew, Stephanie, Hailey, Jadyn and Sophia.
Throughout her life Patricia led with Faith, Love and Empathy. Showing all her friends and family what love looks like. The memories we have made together will always be with us.
Our family would like to thank Hospice of San Joaquin for their compassionate service.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Hospice of San Joaquin, St. Jude’s, and PREVAIL (Women’s Shelter, Stockton Ca).
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