Patricia A. Smith

Patricia (Pat) Smith of Porky Ryan Road, Cadyville, NY passed away on June 28 after a long illness. A celebration of her life will take place on Saturday, July 6, 11:30 am at St. Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville, NY. A reception will follow the funeral at the church’s Jubilee Hall. The Edward Jones office of Plattsburgh is providing catering. Brown Funeral Home of Plattsburgh is handling funeral arrangements. Pat was preceded in death by her parents, Paul A. Flick, and Norma (Harding) Flick, her brother, Robert Flick and by her beloved husband, William (Bill) Smith. She is survived by five sibling and their spouses: Sandra Brown and her husband, Gary Brown of Morrisonville, Joann Flick and her husband, Sam Thornton of East Glacier Park, MT, Mark and Jodie Flick of Chateauguay, NY, Gary and Nancy Flick of Westfield, MA and Paul Flick Jr. and Connie Flick of Niskayuna, NY; her lifelong and dear friends: Lorraine Curley, Lynda Wallaszek, and Kathy Kiroy, and her companion, Bob Head. Kathy was a daily help to Pat in so many ways as she struggled with declining health and mobility. Pat affectionately called her, “my Kathy.” She will be missed by many cousins, nieces and nephews especially Bobby and Courtney Flick of Cadyville, NY who were especially close to their Aunt Pat. She had countless friends and work colleagues who will hold her in their memories as well. Pat led a remarkable life full of family and friends, and she had an equally remarkable career. She was born in Western New York and lived most of her life in upstate Clinton County, NY but in recent years had been spending winters in Ocala, FL. Her family and friends benefited from her talents as a party host and a baker of extraordinary cakes. Her backyard pool was often full of friends and family on hot summer days. Her cakes were the highlight of many birthdays, weddings, and baby and wedding showers. When she and Lynda Wallaszek wanted to cheer up Lynda’s brother-in-law, they stayed up well into the night to bake him a luscious chocolate cake. Pat whipped up a tub of peanut butter frosting and they carefully packaged up cake, frosting, and everything needed to put it all together to ship off - all to just make the guy smile. Her cakes could be multi-tiered and expertly decorated, but they were always delicious. Along with her husband, Bill, Pat ran a vendor cart at local fairs and festivals for many summers. They cooked up bloomin’ onions, cotton candy, and other treats. Long after her vendor exploits had ended, she could still be counted on to haul out the cotton candy machine for any special occasion - spinning clouds of pink or blue candy floss to the sticky sweet delight of all. Bill and Pat started up an annual outdoor party at their home in Cadyville that soon became a storied event. Bill named the party the “Bog Hollow Bash” because he would buy an old junker car and invite party-goers to bash it as part of the event’s entertainment. The Bash also featured a sort-of Redneck parade with souped up ATV’s, golf carts and pick-up trucks. Pat often enjoyed a day trip to the Casino, a weekend camping in her RV, and travel to National Parks or to Europe. She never missed an opportunity to attend a niece or nephew’s ball game or dance recital. Pat began her career right after graduating from Saranac Central High School at a clothing mill in Keeseville, NY. There she discovered her talent and plied her trade as a seamstress. She went on to work at Clinton Correctional Facility in Dannemora, NY as a seamstress teaching inmates to sew prison garb that was used all across New York State. Her natural leadership skills eventually earned her the position of Senior Industrial Superintendent, the first woman in the state of New York to take that position at a maximum security facility. She was an active member of the NY Corrections and Youth Services Association (CAYSA) and served as Region II President from 2003-2007. In her role as president, she represented New York State at the American Correctional Association annual national conference where she made many lifelong friends. She was an admired advocate for correctional facility staff statewide and nationally. Her shop at the prison created t-shirts that went to the crews that worked on recovery at the World Trade Center in New York City after the 9/11/2001 terrorists attack. She retired with honors from Clinton Correctional Facility with 26 years of service in 2007. After retirement, she continued to work for her friend and corrections colleague, Jim Stinson, at Edward Jones in Plattsburgh for 10 years as the office administrator; 7 full time and 3 as a fill-in. Pat volunteered at and supported a local soup kitchen with her lifelong friend, Lorraine Curley. She helped out with many fundraising events, especially in support of local volunteer fire departments. Her friends, co-workers and family could always count on Pat to lend a hand. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pat’s memory may be sent to the Saranac Volunteer Fire Department, 3277 State Route 3, Saranac, NY, 12981. Their emergency medical technicians were a great support to Pat as her health and mobility declined and the family would like to express their gratitude to them.