Catherine J. VanRensselaer Smith

She was born Aug. 25, 1941, in the town of Perrysburg, the daughter of the late Howard Gage and Lucile M. (Blakely) VanRensselaer.

Catherine was a 1960 graduate of Little Valley High School, and retired as a nurses therapy aide at the Buffalo Psychiatric Center, formerly the Gowanda Psychiatric Center in Perrysburg, and she was also a home maker.

She enjoyed painting, crocheting, bowling and spending time with her family and attending the Blakely family reunions.

She is survived by her husband, David G. Smith, whom she married on July 23, 1960, in the Little Valley United Methodist Church; two daughters; Melinda “Mindy” Vaikasiene and husband, Joe of Manassas, Va., and Sharon Pederson and husband, Scott of Alachua, Fla.; three sons: Kenneth Smith and wife, Denise of Albany, N.Y., Daniel “Dipper” Smith and wife, Marcy of Lynchburg, Tenn., and Daniel “Lester” Steves and husband, Billy Thompson of Oregon; eight grandchildren; a brother, Howard Vernon VanRensselaer and wife, Bethany of East Randolph, and Carolyn Ruper and husband, Jim of Napoli and Florida.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday (Sept. 1, 2020) from the Gowanda United Methodist Church, 30 N. Chapel St., Gowanda, from where funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. The Rev. David Rood will officiate. Burial will follow in the Perrysburg Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to the care of her nephew, Howie T. VanRensselaer of the VanRensselaer & Son Funeral Home, 14 Church St., Randolph.

To leave a condolence, log onto www.vanrensselaerndsonfuneralhome.com

If desired memorials in Catherine’s memory may be sent to Perrysburg Fire Department or the Gowanda Ambulance Services.