Beatrice T. Smith

Beatrice T. Porretti Smith, age 95, died at home surrounded by her children on Saturday, July 24. She was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1927 to Mario and Laura Porretti. She graduated from North Kansas City High School in 1945 and married her adolescent crush, Bill Smith, Sr., in 1946. After building their forever home, they had six children and welcomed scores of grandchildren with open minds and unconditional love. They were married for 64 years.

Bea was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church and led Sunday School classes, served as a church organist, and sang with the choir. She was unbelievably creative, skilled, and resourceful in all aspects of her life, whether she was cooking, painting, gardening, sewing, or playing music. Her children remember her as the best mother one could imagine, and describe her as joyous, loyal, determined, generous, humorous, and pragmatic. Her unwavering commitment to Christ’s teachings was the primary guiding force in all she did.

She was preceded in death by her parents Mario and Laura Porretti, her son Terry Smith, and her husband Bill Smith, Sr. Bea is survived by her children: Bill Smith, Jr. (Holly), Dana Smith (Linda), Gail Krause (David), Debbie Wellesley (Galen), and Lisa Porretti Smith. She deeply loved her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and a great-great-grandchild. Grandma Bea will be forever loved and missed.

All services for Bea will be on Friday, July 29 at Newcomer’s White Chapel in Kansas City North. Visitation will be at 1 pm, the funeral service at 2 pm, and the burial at 3 pm. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Bea’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to ASPCA at www.aspca.org.

The family sincerely thanks the caregiving team at Crossroads Hospice for their attentive, compassionate, and impeccable care of Bea.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.dwnwhitechapel.com for the Smith family.