Obituary of Priscilla Jean Smith

GOUVERNEUR – Priscilla Jean Smith, age 56, of Gouverneur, passed away at the Gouverneur Hospital on October 21, 2014 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. In her final moments she was surrounded by her loving family. Calling hours will be at French Funeral Home, Gouverneur on Friday, October 24, 2014 from 2 – 4 and 7 – 9 p.m. Her funeral service will be on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Priscilla was born on November 2, 1957 in Gouverneur to the late Thirel and Ruth (Weir) Simmons. She graduated from the Gouverneur Central School in 1975 where she studied culinary arts. She married Douglas Smith on May 18, 1979. Mr. Smith passed away on May 12, 1994. Priscilla was a caregiver for the elderly for many years. She had previously worked as a banker while her husband was stationed in Florida and Japan. While living in Japan Priscilla taught conversational English to Japanese students. Priscilla was a fun person who loved to laugh. She was proud of her family; accepted people as they were; and enjoyed time spent with family and friends. Priscilla loved being "Nana" to her grandchildren, enjoyed listening to music and dancing, loved to socialize and to shop. Her survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Carley and Mitch Bearden of Gouverneur; her son and daughter-in-law, Corey and Sonya Smith of Liverpool; six sisters, Debra and Michael Shattuck of Gouverneur, Susan and Michael Perrigo of Gouverneur, Mary Lou Simmons of Gouverneur, Patricia Hewitt of Gouverneur, Deanna Hentz and her companion, Wayne Bush of Gouverneur, and Donna Taylor of Chico, TX. Priscilla is also survived by her loving companion of 19 years, Pat Thompson; two granddaughters, Laila Jean and Daphne Marie Bearden; many nieces and nephews; and a close family friend, Herb Finley. She is predeceased by her parents; and two brothers, Clifton and Gary Weir. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of Priscilla may be made to Gouverneur Breast Cancer Fund PO Box 64 Gouverneur NY 13642 http://www.gouverneurbreastcancerfund.com/, the Pancreatic Cancer Research (Lustgarten Foundation) http://www.lustgarten.org/, or an educational fund for her grandchildren that will be set up in the near future. Condolences may be shared online at www.frenchfuneralhomes.com.