NORWICH – Ronald Smith, 55, life-long Norwich resident, passed away Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 14, 2009, at his home.
The son of James J. and Joan A. Garafalo Smith, Ron was born in July of 1953. He lived his entire life in Norwich, where he attended and graduated from the Norwich schools. Ron worked for a time as a custodian for the Norwich school system, and spent most of his working years as a painter, employed for a time by Mike Stroh Painting and later by Caputo Brothers. His real love, however, was woodworking, where he showed his great talent in the articles he made for his family: chairs, cherry swings, a changing table for his granddaughter, and life-sized doll houses for his children. He could fix anything and, if he didn’t know how right away, he would sleep on it and come up with a way to do the repair. A fun-loving family man who enjoyed the time spent with his children, Ron had a good heart and liked being around people.
Ron is survived by his mother, Joan Smith of Oxford; his sweetheart for over 30 years, Donna Smith of Norwich; by his children: Myria Allen and husband Herbert III, Jennifer Smith and Jesse Smith; and his granddaughter, Brianna Allen, all of Norwich. He is also survived by his sisters and their spouses: Rose Ellen and Joseph Yacano of Stuart, Fla., Mary and Thomas Shellito, Kathy and Michael Gibbon, and Debra Wright, all of Norwich, and Nancy Mantel of Sherburne; his brother, James Smith and wife Melody of South Attelboro, Mass.; and nieces and nephews. Ron was predeceased by his dad, James Smith.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday from St. Paul’s Church. The Rev. Douglas Cunningham, pastor, will officiate. Interment will be at a later date. Friends are invited to call at the Marian Chapel of St. Paul’s on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Arrangements are by the R.J. Fahy Funeral Home.