Patricia Smith

BREWER - Patricia Jean (Nason) Smith was born on September 6, 1949, in Bangor, Maine, to Arthur and Fannie (Murphy) Nason, a proud 10th generation Mainer. She passed away
peacefully on April 15, 2024, surrounded in love by her children and family.

She grew up on 14th Street in Bangor, in a house built by her father, where she attended
the Bangor school system. Pat would often ride her bicycle to Dixmont to visit her
Grandmother Josie Murphy at the family farm. She was married in 1967 and started her
family in Bangor while working as a nursing assistant at Eastern Maine Medical Center in the early to mid-1970’s.

In 1975, living on Thomas Hill in Bangor, Pat committed her life to being a follower of
Jesus Christ, and soon after began leading Bible studies in her home.

In 1979, Pat moved to Island Falls, Maine, with her four children, where she embarked
on a new chapter of her life, raising her family as a single mother.

The people of Island Falls embodied community for Pat and her family, particularly the
Island Falls Baptist Church, who showered Pat and her four children with Christian love
and charity. Pat became involved with the Island Falls Baptist Church, where she
faithfully brought her children each Sunday and they found spiritual fulfillment and
community. Pat greatly enjoyed singing and leading in the choir for many years.

After her children graduated high school, Pat, herself, returned to school, graduating
college summa cum laude with a teaching degree in elementary education. Starting yet
another chapter of her full and complete life, Pat moved to the midcoast, where she
taught 1st Grade at the Miller School in Waldoboro, Maine, making lasting impacts on
her students and colleagues, eventually retiring in 2017.

In addition to her dedication to education and the Church, Pat was a lifelong member
and state coordinator of TOPS, an organization for weight loss, where she found
support, encouragement, and lifelong friendships.

In her leisure time, Pat found joy in solving puzzles, knitting, testing her knowledge
while watching Jeopardy, and her favorite pastime of finding trivial disputes to argue
over. Her love for these activities reflected her sharp mind and creative spirit. Pat loved
to travel, taking cruises to the Caribbean, train rides through the Rockies, and countless
trips to various U.S. cities.

Her retirement years were spent at the Ellen-Leach Memorial Home in Brewer, where
she made new friends and acquaintances. The family is especially thankful for the love
and support many members of this community showed to Patricia, as well as the
genuine care, compassion, and support the staff of this facility showed her in her last
years.

She will be remembered for her sharp wit and strength of personality.

Pat is survived by her eldest son, Pastor John R. Smith and his wife, Elizabeth (Wooton), of
Kingsville, Texas; youngest daughter, Janel J. and husband, Michael Hartin, of Brewer;
youngest son, James L. Smith and wife, Tammy (Jones), of Brewer; her grandchildren,
Rachel and husband, Jonathan, of New Braunfels, Texas; Benjamin and wife Maggie, of
Kingsville, Texas; Caleb, of San Antonio, Texas; Daniel of Kingsville, Texas; Justin, Sidney,
Ronald, and Edith; Kaila Hartin and Jacob Hartin, of Brewer; Brittanee, Kamryn, Kaitlyn,
and Samuel of Brewer, Maine; and 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her
“younger” sister, Kathryn “Kitty” and husband, Wilbur Cotton, of Eddington, Maine; her
Nieces, Marty White, of Holden, Robin Hartt, of Carmel, Jacinda Cotton-Castro, of Gray,
Maine; and Lori Proulx, of Holden; her nephew, Eric Nason, of Glenburn, niece, Annette
Nason, of Puyallup, Washington, and nephew, Kris Nason, of Illinois.

She was preceded in death by her father, Arthur (1968); mother, Fannie (1995); granddaughter,
Michaela (2009); brother, A. Frank Nason (2011); sister, Nellie Guptill (2016); and
daughter, Donna Fidanza (2018).

A memorial service to celebrate Patricia Jean Smith's life will be held on Saturday, April 20,
2024, at 11:00 a.m., at The River Church, 146 Center Street in Bangor. Parking is
available at Brookings-Smith Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to the Island Falls United Baptist Church c/o Baptist Park Campers - Memory of Patricia Smith P.O. Box 6 Island Falls, ME 04747. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.