Mary E. (Jackman) Smyth, age 95, of Warwick, passed away on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at Holy Cross Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She was the wife of the late James J. Smyth.

Born in Providence, the daughter of the late Charles B. and Helen F. (Greene) Jackman, she lived in Warwick for most of her life. After her father’s death, she took on the unlikely role of Head of Household at the young age of 21, taking care of her two brothers and eventually her own mother who suffered with dementia.

Mrs. Smyth graduated from Gorton High School in 1944 and began what would be a long career in banking at the Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank; initially holding a position in the Central Files division in downtown Providence, before eventually moving out to the branches (East Greenwich and Warwick) as a bank teller. After her retirement from the bank in 1982, she went on to work for the Miller Box Company for another 20 years, finally retiring at the age of 75.

She was a lifelong parishioner at St. Rita’s Church where she made her first Communion, was married and later became a daily communicant.

Over the years, she took on many positions of leadership and memberships all centered around the betterment of her community through her church. She was a member of the Daughters of Isabella, the Women’s Club of Oakland Beach, she was on the Board of Trustees for St. Rita’s Church, the PTA at Oakland Beach School, as well as a Catechism teacher; and organized many Turkey Trots, Christmas bazaars, raffles, pot luck dinners, and meals for the elderly.

In her spare time, she would crochet, do needlepoint and was a voracious reader of all manner of print whether it be a good mystery novel, the Reader’s Digest or the local newspaper.

She made lifelong friendships and those who knew her found her to be a kind, loyal, trustworthy friend with a wonderful sense of humor. She always made time for a chat and made everyone she encountered feel special.

She is survived by a son, William F. Smyth, and two daughters, Christine M. Casas and Patricia A. (John) Greenwood, all of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; three grandchildren, Sophie Fiona Smyth, Chloe Patricia Casas and Lucas James Greenwood; a goddaughter, Wendy Giorgio; and her beloved nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Charles M. (Mary) Jackman, Joseph Harold Jackman and James F. Jackman.

Her funeral will be held on Monday, November 28, at 9 a.m. from the Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Avenue, Spring Green, Warwick, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Rita Church, 722 Oakland Beach Avenue, Warwick. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, November 27, from 3-6 p.m. Burial will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. 

The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name (Mary E. Smyth) to the national Alzheimer’s Association; online (https://www.alz.org/research) , by phone 1-800-272-3900, or mail check to: 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.