Published Wednesday, April 02, 2008 10:52 AM
Updated Sunday, May 11, 2008 4:14 PM

 

Smith, Rita D.

Rita D. Smith, 88, of Goose Creek, widow of William J. Smith, died Tuesday morning, February 19, 2008 at her residence.

Funeral Mass was held Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 2 o'clock at St. John the Beloved Catholic Church, Summerville.

Rite of Committal with Final Commendation followed in Dorchester Memory Gardens, Summerville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lutheran Hospice, 3525 Iron Horse Drive, Ste. 108, Ladson, 29456 or Pinewood Preparatory School, 1114 Orangeburg Road, Summerville, 29483.

Mrs. Smith was born February 27, 1919 in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, daughter of the late Michael Balchunas and Johanna Glassic Balchunas.

She was a graduate of Bound Brook High School, Bound Brook, New Jersey. She was head chef at new Jersey College of Medicine and Dentistry at Rutgers Medical School, retiring in 1984. She was active with senior citizen organizations in Pennsylvania, little league, boy scouts and cub scouts in New Jersey. She was also active in the Harmony club and the Rainbow club of Pennsylvania. She volunteered for Project Literacy in Pennsylvania, taught English as a second language and was a nursing home volunteer. She helped build air brakes for World War II planes during the war effort. She loved being a grandmother and enjoyed traveling. She was a member of St. John the Beloved Catholic Church and Our Lady of Hope of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. Surviving are a daughter, Joanne S. Accetta and her husband Dr. Christopher Accetta of Goose Creek; two sons, William J. Smith of Bordentown, NJ and Richard J. Smith and his wife Cathy of South Bound Brook, NJ; grandchildren, Andrew S. Katchen of Jersey City, NJ, Kimberly M. Smith of Charleston, C. Matthew Accetta of Goose Creek, Bryan M. Smith of Bordentown, NJ, and W. Grant Accetta of Goose Creek; her boxer, Lady Jane-Roxanne. A memorial message may be written to the family by visiting our website at www.jamesadyal.com Arrangements by James A. Dyal Funeral Home, 303 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC, 29483.