Leonarda “Lennie” Smithwick, age 77, passed away on February 1, 2023. She was born February 8, 1945, in the small town of Kingsville, Texas to Guadalupe Cuestas and Leonardo Lopez. Over the course of her life, Leonarda played many roles and wore many hats. She spent time working in the service industry waiting tables or serving cars as a carhop or cooking for others to make sure there was food on the table.
Leonarda was notably great with her hands. She loved knitting and sewing and getting those hands dirty in her forest of a garden, known most for its wall of cacti and collection of rocks from all over the globe. She cooked award-winning tamales and a beef stroganoff that would knock your socks off. In her downtime, you could catch her watching Westerns with her husband, John or tapping her toe to the country music he would play in the kitchen after work. Together, they loved camping and fishing and often dreamed aloud of owning a farm.
To her children, she was nothing less than a champion, a true paragon of maternity and parental love. Throughout the years, Leonarda did all she could to guarantee her children had everything they needed, and she made sure to imbue their lives with joy and candor or, at times, offering a stern hand to guide them. Given her compassionate nature, Leonarda’s door was always open, and throughout her life, she sheltered many of those in need, family or not.
She naturally played a pivotal role in the lives of her grandchildren, instilling in them tenants of personal responsibility, hope, and positivity. For them, Lennie was a fountain of wisdom and a warmth kindled like no other. Always encouraging. Always supportive. And always kind.
Even in her waning days, she was sure to smile, laugh, and fill the room with the sound of her voice asking if anyone needed anything or if there was anything she could do for them. Leonarda was a giver, and helping others truly brought her happiness. Through sickness, she smiled. Through heartache, she smiled. And through, grief she smiled.
Leonarda is survived and missed dearly by her sisters, Yolanda & Gloria Olivo; her children, Thomas Cervantes, Danny Cervantes, Ricardo Rodriguez, John Smithwick Jr., and Monique Nafegar; her daughters-in-law, Dorthy Cervantes, Maria Rodriguez, Cynthia Wallace, and Danielle Jennings; her son-in-law, Billy Nafegar Jr.; her grandchildren, Brionne, Salina, Daniel, David, Dylan, Ian, Gabriel, Victoria, Christian, and Billy III.; and great grandchildren, Aric & William Abrielle.
She joins her loving husband, John; her mother, Guadalupe; her father, Leonardo; her brother Leonardo Jr.; her mother-in-law, Manuela, her father-in-law, Emilio; her brothers-in-law Pedro, Emilio Jr., and Frank; her sisters-in-law Sally & Margaret; her honorable grandson, Alex; her niece, Angelita; and her nephew, Emilio Smithwick III in heaven.
Visitation will be held Friday, February 10, 2023, from 5:00PM to 8:00PM at Pasadena Funeral Home, 2203 Pasadena Boulevard, Pasadena, Texas 77502. A Celebration of Leonarda's life will be Saturday, February 11, 2023, at 2:00PM at Pasadena Funeral Home.
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