Catherine Mary Smith was born on December 24, 1928 in New Iberia, La, and passed away on November 30, 2015 in Merced, Ca, due to natural causes. She was a Special Education Teacher, a member of the Merced Black Homecoming and a member of Sacred Heart Church.
Catherine is preceded in death by her husband, William Smith; parents, Ville and Antoinette Rochelle; brothers, Wallace Rochelle and Walter Rochelle; sisters, Sylvania Miller and Eunice Rose, Eula Boutte and Josephine Jones.
She is survived by her children, son, Ray Smith (Tina), Josef Rasheed (Rochelle), Ryan Smith, Geoffrey Smith (Lola), David Smith (Kathy), Stewart Smith, Stanley Smith, Steven (La Denta), and Wallace Smith; Daughters, Cynthia Russell (Bill), and Marla Sheppard (Terry).
A vigil service will be held on Friday, December 11, 2015 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B Street, Merced, Ca, with rosary at 6:00 p.m. The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, 671 E. Yosemite Ave, Merced, Ca. Burial will be held on Monday, December 14, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at San Joaquin National Cemetery.
