Josephine Caraccioli Smith

Mrs. Smith was born Josephine Amelia Caraccioli on June 29, 1928 in La Ceiba, Honduras. She spent her early childhood there until 1940, when her parents, Philip and Josephine Caraccioli, decided to enroll her in the convent boarding school, St. Mary of the Pines in Chatawa, MS. When World War II began, all civilian transportation across the Gulf of Mexico was suspended, preventing her from being reunited with her family until the end of hostilities in 1945. A year after peace was declared, she graduated from St. Mary’s and returned to her Honduras home until 1950, when her family decided to seek the American dream and permanently move to New Orleans, LA. It was there where she met and married her husband, Donald C. Smith. In 1953, they moved to Metairie, LA, where they raised their family of two girls and three boys, and were active members of the St. Angela Merici Catholic community. She and her husband were deeply involved in the Catholic Charismatic movement; giving presentations of their spiritual lives as a Catholic couple. During her working career, Mrs. Smith had been employed as a private secretary with the Pan American Oil Co. and with The Clarion Herald Catholic newspaper until her retirement in 1996. She and her husband then retired to the quiet community of Covington, LA and were members of the St. Peter Catholic Church community.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 68 years, Donald C. Smith, her parents, Philip and Josephine Caraccioli, two brothers, Philip and Louis Caraccioli, and a grandson, Jason A. Hicks. She is survived by her five children, Donna L. Savoy of Hammond, LA, Brett J. Smith (Cindy) of Covington, LA, Damian P. Smith (Jackie) of Mandeville, LA, Gregory S. Smith of Slidell, LA, and Jennifer S. Moosa (David) of Youngsville, LA. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jessica Aymami (Thomas) of Metairie, LA, Kyle Schaferkotter (Rita) of Metairie, LA, Breton Smith of St. George, UT, Bristie Smith-Hussain (Amir) of Dallas, TX, Amber Shuta (Ben) of Valparaiso, IN, Ashley Smith of Mandeville, LA, Christopher Smith (Nicole) of Modesto, CA, and Story Moosa of Bowling Green, OH. Mrs. Smith has seven great-grandchildren, Reed and Travis Aymami, Skye and Meadow Schaferkotter, Joon Hussain, William Shuta, and Charlie Rose Smith. She is also survived by her brother, Paul Caraccioli of Metairie, LA and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the visitation at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. in New Orleans, on Thursday, July 17 from 12:00PM until 1:00OPM. The Funeral Mass will begin at 1:00PM in the chapel. The interment will follow the Mass at Lake Lawn Park Mausoleum.

The family invites you to share fond memories and condolences at www.lakelawnmetarie.com.