Catherine S. Smith

Catherine “Kitty” Smith of Perryville, devoted mother and loving wife of the late Sibley Smith, died Saturday in South Bay Manor, Peace Dale. She was 98 years old. Born on Christmas, 1911, in New Haven, she was the daughter of the late Francis and Catherine (Shannon) Sisk. A long-time South Kingstown resident, Kitty was an accomplished pianist, artist and avid lover of nature. It was in New Haven while attending Yale Art School that she met Sibley. both were artists, with sketches and portraits being Catherine’s forte. In 1945, they displayed their works in a husband-and-wife show at the Tilden Thurber gallery in Providence. A few years later, Catherine’s passion turned to piano – notably the classics – especially works by Poulenc, Bach and Haydn. Tutors were the late Raymond Knapp and Susan Hodgin of Cranston, who remembers Kitty being “tenacious, dedicated and enthusiastic.” “Most people who start to play the piano as adults do not have the courage or fortitude to progress to professional-level literature,” Ms. Hodgin said. “Kitty had both,along with a keen ear and true love of the humor, complexities and passions she discovered in her favorite composers. She was an inspiring duet partner and a valuable patron of local concert series.” Catherine took great joy in daily walks with her Labrador retriever through the woods around her pond. She kept a Walden-like journal of the walks along with each day’s weather records and personal notes.In the community, Kitty served for over 35 years – a record -- as a volunteer for South County Meals on Wheels, and also in the pharmacy of South County Hospital.She was a communicant and lector at St. Romuald’s Chapel in Matunuck. Catherine is survived by two sons, Sibley (Jr.) Smith of Perryville and wife Cecile Cohen, and Gordon Smith of East Providence and partner Arthur Davey; three grandchildren, Alison Smith of Oakland, Calif., Tara Levesque of Landenberg, Pa. and David Smith of Wakefield; and two great grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday 10 AM in St. Romuald’s Chapel in Matunuck. Burial in New Fernwood Cemetery will be private. A celebration of Catherine’s life will be Saturday June 12 from 4-6 PM at the South Kingstown Land Trust Barn, 17 Matunuck Beach Road.Instead of flowers, a donation in Catherine’s memory to the charity of your choice would be greatly appreciated.