Dorothy A. Smith

Smith, Dorothy Agnes (Patin) our dearly beloved Mother, Mum, Grandma Dottie, and Mima Dottie age 91, of Sand Lake, was called to her heavenly home on Monday, October 3, 2022 after living a long, faithful life. She was preceded in death by Eugene Smith, her husband of 49 years, and parents Aloysius and Dorothy Patin of Sand Lake. She is survived by her 11 “favorite” children: Larry (Licha) Smith of Sand Lake, Anne Marie (Gary) Barton of Byron Center, Gerard (Lynn) Smith of Grand Rapids, Dolores (Mark) Huizinga of Sand Lake, Christopher (Elizabeth) Smith of Cedar Springs, Regina (Dennis) Polkowski of Belmont, MaryAnne (Wade) Laverack of Sand Lake, Judithanne (Clifford) Nigli of Belmont, Annette (Todd) Schautz of Grand Rapids, Stephen Smith of Pierson, and Margaret Smith of Sand Lake, 32 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, five sisters, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Dorothy graduated valedictorian from Sand Lake High School and Magna Cum Laude from Central Michigan with a degree in teaching. She taught at Johnson School in Sand Lake before starting her family. She continued her teaching as she raised her children proofreading their school papers and giving quizzes before their exams. She was committed to supporting all 11 children as they attended Ferris State University. Dorothy continued to teach throughout her entire life and was affectionally known as “The Wise One”. Dorothy believed and lived by her priorities of God, family, country. Her Roman Catholic faith served as her foundation in life and that faith guided her daily. She instilled the gift of faith into her family and exemplified that faith to those around her. Dorothy enjoyed living on her childhood farm and took great pleasure in watching its continued agricultural use. A favorite phrase often said by mom, “Don’t worry about what others think of you, worry about what God thinks”. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, October 8, 2022 at 11 am, at Mary Queen of Apostles Catholic Church, 1 W Maple Street, Sand Lake, with Rev. Fr. Lam Le and concelebrant Rev. Fr. John Bosco Ssekkomo (Dorothy’s “Adopted Son”). Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Sand Lake. Her family will receive visitors Friday, October 7 from 2-4 and 6-8 pm at the Bliss-Witters & Pike Funeral Home, Cedar Springs where a Vigil and Rosary will be recited at 7:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to support education for children in Uganda and Poor Clare Monastery, 809 E. 19th St., Roswell, NM 88201.