Kathy Smith-DeGraw
1/21/2018
Kathy Smith-DeGraw of Warwick, New York, passed away on January 21, 2018 at Orange Regional Medical Center. She was born June 30, 1951 to Elmer and Ann (Miller) Smith in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kathy earned her Bachelor of Arts from Valparaiso University and a Masters in Sociology from the New School for Social Research. She worked many years in the education and social work fields. Kathy was an adjunct professor at SUNY Orange and Marist College. She finished her career as an administrator at SUNY Rockland. She was also a past member of the Board of Directors for the Orange Orchestral Society, as music was one of her passions.
Kathy was a caring and loving wife and mother. Her family was always her number one priority, and it showed to anyone who was lucky enough to have met her; her face would beam anytime she spoke of her boys. She never went anywhere without a book, and never threw one out. Kathy played the piano and violin and was a member of the Warwick Valley Chorale for 16 years, most recently serving as co-librarian. With the chorale, she was able to perform at many local venues, as well as Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Kathy also loved all animals and especially enjoyed spoiling her two cats. She was also a self-proclaimed chocolate connoisseur.
Kathy is survived by her loving husband Jack of 44 years and her two sons – Jeffrey of Newburgh, and Jonathan of Garrison. She is also survived by her sister Annette Blythe of San Antonio, TX and brother Bob Smith and wife Patty of Cleveland, OH; her brothers-in-law Paul DeGraw of CA and Jeff DeGraw and wife Sharon of Warwick; a sister-in-law Joyce DeGraw of Goshen; nieces and nephews Brock and Cara DeGraw, Bridget and Kristen Geary, Kim and Phillip Blythe, and Erik and Tim Smith.
There will be visitation on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Lazear-Smith & Vander Plaat Memorial Home, 17 Oakland Avenue, Warwick, NY, from 2-4 and 7-9pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Stephen’s Church, 75 Sanfordville Road, Warwick, NY on Thursday, January 25 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Stephen's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in honor of Kathy may be made to the Warwick Valley Chorale, P.O. Box 1309, Warwick, NY 10990.
Calendar of Care
At the time of funeral service we commemorate and reflect on the life
of Kathy Smith-DeGraw. In the days, weeks and months ahead it will be a
comfort to family of Kathy Smith-DeGraw to continue to remember a life well lived.
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