Sister Shirley Marlene Smith
August 27, 1931 - April 19, 2016
Obituary
OBITUARY
SHIRLEY SMITH, SP
(Sister Bibiana)
Sister Shirley Smith, age 84, a Sister of Providence for 62 years, died April 19, 2016, at St. Joseph Residence, Seattle, WA. Vigil Service: Monday, April 25, 2016, at 7:00 PM, and Funeral Mass: Tuesday, April 26, 2016, at 11:00 AM, both at Providence Mount St. Vincent, 4831 35th Avenue SW, Seattle, WA. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Seattle, WA, after Mass and reception. Bonney-Watson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley Marlene Smith was born August 27, 1931 to Willard and Mabel Smith, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. When she was 12 years old the family moved to Oakland, California. She was the second of three children. After high school graduation she was granted a nursing scholarship at Providence School of Nursing in Oakland, CA. Shirley entered the Sisters of Providence in November 1952 at Mount St. Vincent, Seattle, WA. She professed first vows on November 18, 1954 and received the name Sister Bibiana, and on November 19, 1957 she professed final vows.
In 1952, Shirley received her Registered Nursing License, and in 1969 received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Seattle University. She also completed the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) program with certification in 1981.
Shirley began her ministry in 1954 as a nurse at St. Mary Hospital in Walla Walla, WA. From 1956-86 she continued her ministries in nursing, healthcare administration, pastoral care and community service in Washington: Seattle – Providence Medical Center and Mount St. Vincent, Port Townsend – St. John Hospital, Issaquah – Providence Heights; California: Oakland – Providence Hospital; Alaska: Fairbanks – St. Joseph Hospital.
From 1971-74 and 1986-92, Shirley was elected to the Provincial Council of Sacred Heart Province and was appointed Assistant Provincial. In 1994 she served as Local Superior of St. Joseph Residence for six years. From 2000-06 she served on boards of directors of Providence Marianwood in Issaquah, St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, MT, and Sojourner Place, Seattle. When she retired, she volunteered at Providence Mount St. Vincent and the Veterans Administration Hospital. During retirement she enjoyed playing the piano, baking and being outdoors while sharing cherished time together with family, relatives, friends and her Sisters.
Sr. Shirley is preceded in death by her parents and two siblings. She is survived by her Sisters in Community; brother, Sean Smith, Union City, CA; nieces, Linda Fritz, Holualoa, HI, and Carrie Pinsky, Fort Collins, CO; and nephew, Dana Smith, San Francisco, CA.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Sisters of Providence Retirement Fund, 1801 Lind Avenue SW, #9016, Renton, WA 98057-9016.
To view Sr. Shirley’s obituary and picture and to sign her memory book, please visit the website for Bonney-Watson Funeral Home at www.bonneywatson.com
Sr. Shirley cared and remembered people so much. Frequently, I would meet her at Mt St. Vincent greeting many in the hallways and dining room. She stepped out of her role and was there to listen and be present.
She now rests with her God.
Dearest Family,
We have lost one of the most gracious ladies on this earth! Sister Shirley was a wonderful symbol of love in everything that she did! As a cousin of her’s I will miss that smile upon her face and that sweet sweet voice that she had. She was always a reassuring force on this earth! I know that she is blessed in the heavens with our wonderful creator and his son that she served so well on this earth. I will miss you Shirley Smith but I know you are happy being in the company of your mother and brothers also! See you again!
I miss you grandma. I’m glad to have spent time with you during your ministry. You lead such a wonderful life and we need more people like you especially now. Until we meet again, I will carry on your faith and compassion.