Patricia Smith

Mystic — Patricia Smith, loving wife and mother, passed away on Oct. 23 after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Pat was born on Jan. 7, 1942, in Chicago to Ray and Jean Weimer. She became a registered nurse after receiving her certification in Chicago but found her true life’s work after marrying Blanton John Smith and opening a pet store in Groton in 1968. For 45 years she ran Fin & Feather and introduced generations of families to their first pet as well as being a mother to countless employees over the years.

They also owned a reggae music nightclub, Cool Runnings, for several years in the ’70s and ’80s after first hearing the music during a trip to Jamaica. Pat and Blanton loved to cruise and traveled the world, transiting the Panama Canal as well as six continents including Antarctica. The highlight of their travels was a trip to see the pyramids in Egypt.

Pat was preceded in death by her parents and her son, Scott. She is survived by her husband, John, their children Mike, Laura, Durelle and Samantha, her brother Ray and grandchildren Troy, Madison, Isaac and Iris.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, 2018, at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church in New London, Connecticut.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https:// act.alz.org/donate