December 2, 1933 – May 9, 2025
Mary Lou Smith, 91, of Salamanca, NY, died early Friday morning at home with loving family by her side.
Born December 2, 1933 in Salamanca, NY, she was the daughter of the late Hugh Sr. and Esther Smith Dunn. She was married October 21, 1961 in the former St. Patrick’s Church to James G. Smith, who predeceased her in 2024.
Mrs. Smith had been employed by the former L.F. Smith Dairy where she would meet the man she would share the next 73 years of her life and raise her loving family. She was employed with the Salamanca Central School System where she worked with children that she loved being around.
She was a member of Our Lady of Peace Parish, the former St. Patrick’s Church and Elkdale Country Club. She enjoyed gathering with her friends to play golf, progressive rummy and Mahjong, and was always spirited when she “won a few nickels off the ladies!” She spent countless hours solving Sudoku and crossword puzzles with her husband Jim, and similar time watching her favorite TV show Judge Judy. But her Life’s passion was enjoying time spent together with family and friends, especially “the little ones”.
Surviving are: a daughter, Melissa VanWinkle, Arkport, NY; two sons, James (Janice) Smith, Great Valley, NY, LeRoy Smith, Brunswick, OH; four grandchildren, Donnie Van Winkle, Will (Kyra) Van Winkle, Haleigh Siebert, Braden Siebert; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Hugh Dunne, Salamanca, NY; several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a daughter, Heather Siebert, a brother, Jack Dunn, and three sisters, Donna (Jack) Truman, Carol (Tom) Wachter and Jeannie (Butch) Poole.
There will be no visitation.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Our Lady of Peace Parish, 274 Broad Street, Salamanca, NY on May 24, 2025 at 11am with Father Jan Trela officiating.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Salamanca, NY.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests donations be made to Home Care & Hospice 115 East Main St. Allegany, NY 14706.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc. Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY.
E-condolences can be sent to orourke.orourkefh@gmail.com or posted to facebook.com/onofh.
