Obituary of Catherine Smithok

Catherine Smithok, 96 of Merrick, New York, passed away on February 11, 2025 after a short-term rehab stay and a courageous battle with Covid-19. She received continuous visits from her loving family, who fed her with love, scripture, and encouragement.

Catherine was born in Brooklyn, New York to Fannie and Mike DeLuca as the first of six children of a close-knit, Italian family. She loved to reminisce about her role during her late teen years of supervising the apartment and her siblings while Mama and Daddy were at work. Those siblings–Frankie, Jimmy, Michael, Angela, and Joseph let her know when they outgrew that arrangement!

Brooklyn is the place where she loved to attend All Saints Catholic Church with its engaging basketball games and dances for young people. Many of her cherished memories came from those church events. And Brooklyn is the place where she met her future devoted husband, Eddie, who became the love of her life.

When Catherine and Eddie moved to Merrick with their first baby girl, Diane, they were navigating adventurous territory, as it was a leap of faith to tackle the expense of buying a new home on Long Island. That home became the permanent homestead also for the arrival of their second baby girl, Joyce, and eventually for their beloved dog Butch within their long-standing marriage.

Catherine was the social type, along with Eddie, who credited his wife with the talent to stretch the household budget, which he funded with years of overtime. The family enjoyed the amenities of modest Long Island living with lots of weekend evening and Sunday visits with family.

With her husband Eddie, Catherine enjoyed card club friends, the Sacred Heart Church Over 50 Club, their AARP meetings, and increasingly frequent overnight getaways to Atlantic City once the girls were grown. Mom worked her part-time job as lunchroom cashier at an elementary school, which allowed her the time to always put a home-cooked meal onto the kitchen table.

Their family joy grew as they welcomed the arrival of their treasured three grandchildren, and then during Catherine's widowed years, three precious great-grandchildren.

Catherine is survived by her devoted daughters Diane (George) and Joyce, who persisted in helping her continue to maintain the independent lifestyle that she loved.

She is also survived by her cherished and adoring grandchildren Christopher (Alyssa), Danielle (Mike), and Justin (Jen), as well as the lights of her life–great grandchildren Johnny, Michael, and Amelia.

Catherine also leaves behind her treasured sister Angela (Lou) and her beloved brother Joe.

She is also survived by many cherished nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and neighbors, all of whom she valued dearly. For Catherine, family was everything. And friends easily became "family" and "besties" to her.

Catherine never stopped missing those loved ones who passed before she did. We pray for God's blessings upon her soul and upon all those whom she longed to hug once again. And we thank you for joining us in celebrating a life well-lived and our faith in the promises of eternal life.