Therese G. Smith

Therese Ptach Smith, age 71, died peacefully and expectedly after a short period of hospice care in her Clinton Township home on March 3, 2026. Therese was born on November 4, 1954 to Lucille and Urban Ptach in Detroit, Michigan.

After graduating from Richmond High School Therese attended Macomb Community College and married David Smith, an honorably discharged Vietnam veteran, in 1979. Shortly after they married, Therese and David moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where they lived together until David's death in 2009. Following David's death Therese worked as a customer service representative for local companies and organizations in Omaha.

In 2018 Therese returned to Michigan to live in the Presbyterian Village of Peace Manor in Clinton Township. Therese was an avid and very creative needlepointer, who enjoyed sharing her work with family and friends. She also enjoyed visiting with her many nieces and nephews in the area and was surrounded by many of them at her 70th birthday party.

Therese was predeceased by her sister, Toni Ptach Westrick Seehauson of Los Angeles. Therese is survived by her devoted sister Kathy Grenda and her husband Don Ritzenhein of Washington, DC, and brothers Bob Ptach and his wife Gail of Richmond, Joe Ptach and his wife Gloria of Connecticut, David Ptach of Los Angeles, and Ken Ptach of Grand Rapids, as well as her many nieces and nephews in the area.

A family celebration of Therese's life will be held at a later date.