Bernadette Balobeck Smith

Bernadette Balobeck Smith, 87, of Orlando, FL, passed away March 9, 2022. Born in Pittsburgh, PA on April 16, 1934, Bernadette graduated valedictorian from Mt. Assisi Academy, where she was the captain of the girls’ basketball team. She graduated from the School of Chemistry and received a Bachelor of Science from the University of Pittsburgh. She later graduated from Duquesne University, Secondary School Administrative Master’s Certificate Program. After college, Bernadette moved to California where she met and married Lane R. Smith on November 20, 1965.

Bernadette worked as a chemist at Shell Oil in San Francisco, CA and later taught AP Chemistry and Biology at North Allegheny High School and Vincentian Academy in Pittsburgh, PA. When the family moved to Orlando in 1988, she taught at Lake Highland Preparatory School. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, Alpha Epsilon Delta (Pre-Med Honor Fraternity), American Association of University Women, Perry Highlands Junior Women’s Club, Pennsylvania Secondary Education Association, and Hunter’s Creek Community Association, where she served as past president of Timucua Village. She enjoyed golfing, bridge, painting, singing in the church choir, spending time with her children and grandchildren and cheering for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

She is survived by her beloved husband Lane; her daughter Staceyann and husband Ivan Latanision; her son Gavin and wife Lori Smith; her cherished grandchildren: Aidan, Zachary, Zoë, Christian, and Ian; and her brother Joseph Balobeck and his wife Debbie.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Bernadette will be held Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Corpus Christi Catholic Church, 1050 Celebration Ave, Celebration, FL 34747. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bernadette's name may be made to: School Sisters of St. Francis Retirement Fund, 4900 Perry Highway, Suite 201, Pittsburgh PA 15229.

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