Rose Mary Albano Smith
Rose Mary Albano Smith of Springdale, formerly of Pine Bluff, loved Jesus, her church home and loved people unconditionally with her kindness and generosity.
She passed quietly and peacefully on October 15, 2023, after having just turned 88 years old.
Rose Mary was born in Crystal City, Mo., to Frank and Josephine (Scauzzo) Albano on October 3, 1935.
She attended Crystal City High School and played violin in the school orchestra.
After graduating from St. John’s Hospital School of Nursing in St. Louis, Mo., in 1956, Rose Mary became a Registered Nurse.
She met her future husband, Donald H. Smith, in 1956 on a blind date at Fort Chaffee, where he was serving in the Army. They married in 1957 and moved to Fayetteville, Ark., where he entered law school and she worked as a nurse at Washington County Hospital, now called Washington Regional Medical Center, which is now where the Veteran’s Hospital is located. When her husband finished law school they moved to Blytheville, Ark., for a brief time before moving to Pine Bluff, Ark., in 1959, where they would raise their family and spend most of their life.
While Don practiced law, Rose Mary excelled as a homemaker and hostess for family and friends alike. She was active as a volunteer in organizations such as the Catholic Daughters of America, the Arkansas Jaycees, and the Junior League of Pine Bluff. She spent nine years (1992-2001) employed by the HeadStart Program of Pine Bluff. She loved helping disadvantaged students.
Rose Mary was also a regular volunteer for many functions at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. She helped to initiate the soup kitchen at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in 2013. She loved serving at the soup kitchen week in and week out. Her family often served at the soup kitchen alongside her. After Don passed in 2015, Rose Mary continued to serve others and live independently in Pine Bluff until she moved to Springdale, Arkansas, to be closer to family, in 2021. She soon became a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church of Tontitown, Ark. and made many friends, as she always did, with her warmth, kindness, and generosity.
She especially loved all her grandchildren. They so affectionately called her nana.
Survivors include her children, Don Smith (Lisa) of Little Rock, Ark., and Mary Ann Nelson of Melrose, Wis., Brian D. Smith (Debra) of Tontitown, Ark.; brother, Pat “Buddy” Albano of Festus, Mo.; and grandchildren, Boren Jones, Paul Ashton Smith, Josephine Kate Smith, Jon-Davis Smith, Abby Nelson, and Houston Nelson.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 1:30 p.m., Saturday, October 21, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pine Bluff with Father Joseph Marconi officiating. Interment will follow in Graceland Cemetery by Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors. A Vigil service will be 5:00 p.m. Friday evening in the Chapel of Ralph Robinson and Son with Deacon Noel F. “Bud” Bryant officiating. Visitation will follow the Vigil service.
Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 412 West 6th Avenue, Pine Bluff, Ark. 71601, or St. Joseph Catholic Church, 192 E Henri De Tonti Blvd., Springdale, Ark. 72762.
Online register: www.RalphRobinsonandSon.com