Rosalie Smith
1944-01-01 2020-11-19
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ROSALIE ANN SMITH
Age 76, of O'Hara Township, passed suddenly on November 19, 2020, at her home. Born in Pittsburgh and raised in Mt. Lebanon by Regis and Rosella Moran, Rosalie taught high school math before meeting her husband, Fred Smith (O'Hara) while he was attending dental school at The University of Pittsburgh. She and Fred moved to England shortly after they were married in 1965. In England Fred practiced dentistry in the Air Force. There, her first son, Ryan (Bethel Park), and second son, Bradley (married to Lisanne Smith - daughter-in-law) (O'Hara) were born. After returning to the United States, Fred was accepted into the Loyola University School of Orthodontics. While living in the suburb of LaGrange, IL Rosalie welcomed her first daughter, Shannon (O'Hara). Rosalie and Fred returned to Pittsburgh, PA and settled into the suburb of O'Hara Township to welcome their next son, Reed (Boise, ID) and youngest daughter, Megan (married to Terry Piper - son-in-law) (O'Hara). It is here that Rosalie would spread her infectious love of life and people for the next 40 plus years. There are some individuals like photos you snap which never fully capture the impact of the "real thing". They are impossible to describe adequately. It is as if all the beautiful words; love, selflessness, kindness, loyalty, laughter, GENEROSITY, faith, compassion, and commitment are insufficient. Her spirit preceded her presence wherever she went and the breadth of people she touched was as wide as her limitless heart. Everyone was her equal. Everyone was special. If you were standing in front of her, you were wrapped in something warm, safe, and rare. Her concentrated interest and attention to you were the hallmarks of her soul. Be it her family, friends or the new cashier at Trader Joe's (a favorite place for her to take a special trip across the bridge and browse for dark chocolate peanut butter cups and an "interesting" new item to try) she greeted all with elevated graciousness, rapt attention, and a genuine smile. Charmingly proud of her Irish heritage, she was also half German, a mix of formidable strength and playful joyousness. A prankster who loved to tease and taunt, often surprising one of her five children as they walked in through the kitchen after school by popping around the corner yelling "CATCH!" and whipping a piece of fruit across the kitchen at them, cackling with glee as her startled child scrambled to secure the apple or pear. Yes, she was first and foremost, passionately, a mother. Her most cherished role, one she was born to "play". It would be hard to find someone who embodied the word MOM more fully, competently, lovingly, joyfully, ardently, and steadfastly as "Ro". New to technology, she learned to love her "Alexa". Alongside her nightly Manhattan, she regularly asked the little black tower to play one of her favorite songs from a handwritten list she kept in the kitchen drawer. "Alexa! Play "Peace Train by Cat Stevens", as she did her telltale jig around the island. Yes, her yellow, wallpapered kitchen was a hub of music, dancing, belly laughter, buttery chocolate scents and constant conversation. There was no idle chit chat with her. She did not want to talk about the weather. It was YOU she was interested in. She was always cooking up something delicious and documenting the experience in the margins of her many cookbooks; "Very good. Fred commented on how much he liked it. Add extra butter." She delighted in reading these back to whomever was around. She adored the sharing of selves. Connecting was her superpower. Devoted to Meals on Wheels and the local homeless kitchen, she never encountered a homeless person or human in need without giving. She did not simply hand them some money. She took their hands in her own, looked them in their eyes and asked "What's your name?" (and usually a few other inquiries, too!) Rosalie SAW YOU, each of you, with riveted interest and sincere curiosity as to what you were all about. A voracious reader, she kept notebooks replete with favorite quotes from the periodicals, books and journals she read daily. She wrote letters to her loved ones each day often ending with something in quotation marks that had recently moved her. It is not hyperbole to say she may have singlehandedly kept the United States Postal Service afloat. So close to Mark the Mailman, he daily drove down the driveway to personally hand deliver Rosalie her lot and give Gus a bone. Above and beyond all else, Rosalie loved Kindness. She epitomized it and the gentle caring hearts she witnessed in her five children and 13 grandchildren who gave her deep joy and pride. She delighted immensely in each grandchild and loved to talk about "just how GOOD" their compassionate hearts are. They are, Kara Smith, Sam Smith, Tyler Smith, Caroline Smith, Charlie Smith, Lucy Smith, Addie Piper, Cooper Smith, Max Smith, Stella Smith, Molly Piper, Will Piper, and her angel in heaven Benjamin Piper. Rosalie also leaves behind her husband, Fred; children, Ryan, Brad, Shannon, Reed and Megan; as well as her two brothers, Jack Moran (The Villages, FL) and Will Moran (Port Hadlock, WA). If you are able to do something kind today, please do. She believed we have the power to heal our world, one laugh, smile, and tender touch at a time. #bekindlikerosalie. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to St. Vincent DePaul of Sharpsburg - Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, https://www.pittsburghfoodbank.org/agency/st-vincent-depaul-sharpsburg/. Arrangements entrusted to BURKET-TRUBY FUNERAL HOME CREMATION & ALTERNATIVE SERVICES, INC., Oakmont.
Published on November 29, 2020