Rita Louise Smith

Rita Louise Smith.

87, Greenwood, IN, passed away on May 26, 2024.  Rita was born on February 21, 1937, in Indianapolis the second of six children of Gerald and Anne Hyland Harrison who both preceded her in death.  Rita attended St. John Academy, and she married Donald J. Smith on September 13, 1958.  Rita and Don were married almost 34 years before he passed away of cancer on January 23, 1992.  Rita was also preceded in death by four siblings:  Jean M. Harrison, Anna “Jo” Clark, James P. Harrison, and Michael A. Harrison.  

Rita is survived by her three children: Christopher B. Smith, Donald G. (Carol) Smith, and Anita L. Smith; Grandchildren Kathryn (Bruce) Vannice, Lucas (Brandy) Kocher, and Sarah (Blane) Crouse; ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; Sister, Linda J. Harrison; and several nieces and nephews.     

Rita retired from RCA’s Sherman Plant in Indianapolis after 32 years of service in 1997, but she was never one to sit idly and quickly returned to work for an additional 10 years at Dollar General in Greenwood.  Rita was a former St. Philip Neri parishioner and Indianapolis’ near Eastside resident for more than 40 years where she and Don raised their family and had their beloved home on St. Joseph Street.  Rita resided in Greenwood for most of the latter 30 years and was an active St. Jude parishioner.  Rita loved animals, was a talented gardener, artist, and a prolific writer of letters and cards throughout her life to provide words of encouragement, celebration, and sympathy and to remind hundreds of people she was thinking about them and praying for them.  Rita was a devout Roman Catholic who practiced her faith with conviction her entire life and expressed it through her decades of service to others and interactions with all who encountered her.

Friends and family may call for visitation and wake on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at O’Riley -Branson Funeral Service & Crematory, located at 6107 S. East St. from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Morning Prayers will be Monday, June 3, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the funeral home.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 11:00 AM at St. Jude Catholic Church located at 5353 McFarland Road with graveside services and burial immediately following the Mass at Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 435 W. Troy Avenue. 

Please visit www.OrileyBranson.com to share a favorite memory or to sign the online guest registry.