Vera Margaret Smith

Vera Margaret (Currie) Smith, 92, of Sioux City died October 5, 2016 at Holy Spirit Retirement Home.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church with Rev. Jay Denne officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:00 P.M., Tuesday, October 11, 2016 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel with family present.

Vera was born September 15, 1924 in Stangmore, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. She fell in love with an American soldier stationed there during WWII who though wounded in the sands of North Africa came back to her. She married Richard Ricketts Smith on August 26, 1946 in Dungannon; she and “Dickie” moved to America where they raised a family in Sioux City, Iowa, keeping always close to her heart her extended Irish family she left behind in flesh but not in spirit.

Vera loved life and people. She had a gift for connecting with people and made friends easily. She was kind, compassionate, thoughtful, patient, and a great listener who asked little and gave much. Though afflicted with multiple sclerosis (MS) in her late 30’s she made up her mind to be happy and cheerful no matter what limitations the disease forced upon her. Her passionate unrelenting spirit, playful wit, and focus on the simple beauty of life brought joy to all that were fortunate enough to spend time in her presence.

Vera was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church and St. Cecilia’s Guild and she was also active in the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) auxillary. During the last 15 years of her life, like the Irish village in which she grew up, she became part of a loving tight-knit community at Holy Spirit Retirement Home, Though the soft lilt of her Irish brogue will now only been heard by those with her in heaven Vera will live on in the hearts of the many she touched so deeply, and she will be missed beyond measure.

Family members left to cherish her memory include: her daughter, Ruth (Smith) Keairns and her husband Harry of Des Moines; two sons, Richard Currie Smith and his wife, Margaret Stedman-Smith of Akron, Ohio, and Sean G. Smith of Sioux City. Six grandchildren, Jane Keairns, Brenda (Keairns) Caruso and Brian Keairns of Des Moines; Ryan Smith of Eugene, Oregon; Scott Smith and Wendi (Smith) Webb of Sioux City; 10 great-grandchildren; a sister, Margaret (Currie) Robinson and two sister-in-laws, Ann and Marina Currie, all of Northern Ireland, along with many nieces, nephews and their children.

Vera was preceded in death by her husband Richard, grandson, Sean Christopher, parents James and Emma (Simpson) Currie; five brothers Bobby, Garfield, Ned, Tom and Jim; two brother-in-laws, Edward Smith, Tom Robinson and two sister-in-laws, Ellie Currie and Joan Currie.

The family wishes to thank both the staff at Holy Spirit and Hospice of Siouxland who provided outstanding care to Vera. Memorial contributions may be directed to St. Thomas Episcopal Church or Holy Spirit Retirement Home.