Barbara Smith

Albany- Barbara J. Smith, 58 passed away on Friday, December 12, 2014 at St. Peter's Hospice Inn in Albany. Born in Albany, NY, she was the daughter of the late Robert Smith and is survived by her mother, Ethel Noe; her brothers, Mark (Perley), Daniel (Georgeann) and Robert (Susan) Smith; her nieces, Jennifer and Desiree; her nephew, Robert; and five great-nieces.

She has many cherished friends, and everyone who knew her had no choice but to love her. She is already greatly missed. She leaves behind a legacy of much laughter...to say she was very funny is an understatement. She worked for over 33 years as a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant in the same facility which is most recently known as Hudson Park Rehab and Nursing. She poured out her heart and soul to the many hundreds of patients she treated over the years and gave her all to meet their needs. She felt that listening to her patients and giving advice from her heart was just as important, if not more important, than giving care to their bodies. Many a stony heart was softened by her love. She was greatly admired by her many co-workers and loved by many of her patients because of the true caring and unselfish love she exhibited. Living her life in this manner was as important to her as breathing, and it stemmed from her great love of Jesus Christ and her desire to serve Him to the fullest. She most recently received her spiritual nourishment from those in the Shepherds House and Hope Chapel in Valatie. She also displayed a consistently high work ethic to her employers, and she walked in humility.

She loved vacationing in Maine and in the Cape Cod area. Her interests included writing songs, playing her guitar, writing poetry, reading, photography and watercolor. She also loved horseback riding, nature, and animals and was known among her friends as a "dog-whisperer."

To know Barbara was to know love. She made the statement that she never met a person she didn't like because she always made an extra effort to find something to love in each person she met. She believed that love was her mission and that the giving of love was what gave life true meaning. She had great love for her family and truly appreciated the love and support she received from them. She did not have words to express how much the love and support of her many friends meant to her, which was expressed through their prayers, love and faithfulness to her, both in sickness and in health.

Many thanks to all of the staff of St. Peter's Hospice Inn for genuinely caring for her physically, emotionally, and spiritually during her time of need. Words cannot express our appreciation adequately.

The viewing, from 10-12 on Wednesday morning Dec. 17th, and her graduation to heaven at 12 noon will be celebrated at Hope Chapel, 3429 Rt. 9, Valatie, NY. Turn right off Exit 12 of I-90 East and about a half mile down on the right will be Hope Chapel. Interment will take place in Memory Gardens, 983 Watervliet-Shaker Road, Albany. Donations to St. Peter's Hospice in Barbara's memory would be appreciated. Condolences may be offered at Mooneyfuneralhome.com