Sr. Patricia Smith RDC
Sister Patricia Smith, RDC (Mary Campion), a member of the Sisters of the Divine Compassion for 70 years, died peacefully at Cabrini Nursing Home on September 7, 2025 after a long illness.
Sr. Pat, known as Treesh to just about everyone, was born in New York on August 30, 1936 to Thomas and Florence Smith. Sister entered the Sisters of the Divine Compassion on September 3, 1955 and made final vows on April 18, 1963.
Sr. Pat earned her Bachelor’s Degree in History from Good Counsel College in 1962 and her Master’s Degree in Gerontology from the College of New Rochelle in 1996. This year marked Sr. Pat’s 70th year in religious life. Her ministry in elementary education spanned more than 30 years. Warmly remembered as Sr. Mary Campion by her former students, Sister taught second through eighth grade children at St. Frances de Chantal in the Bronx for 23 years, as well as Blessed Sacrament in Manhattan, Our Lady of Sorrows in White Plains, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Elmsford and St. Joseph’s in Croton Falls.
During her summers, Sr. Pat often volunteered at the Dwelling Place, a women’s shelter in Hell’s Kitchen in New York City. She was also active in Summer in the City, an Archdiocesan anti-poverty program in the 1960s, which provided enrichment opportunities for youth in Harlem.
In 1991, Treesh became the first Senior Services Coordinator at the RDC Motherhouse, Good Counsel, a role she held until her retirement. It was in this position that all her prior ministerial experience came together in a presence that held patience, humor, attentiveness, tenderness, and honesty.
Throughout her life, Sr. Pat enjoyed singing. She directed glee clubs at each school where she taught. Her soaring soprano always enhanced the Sisters’ choir. She was also part of the Sisters’ group that cut its very own vinyl record, still enjoyed by the RDC Staff!
These past few years Treesh struggled with multiple illnesses. She was tended to faithfully by her dear friend Sr. Ruth Murphy and our faithful Health Care Team as well as the staff at the Wartburg in Mt. Vernon.
In addition to her parents, Treesh was predeceased by her brother John and sister Lorraine. She is survived by her sister-in-law Joan, her nieces Kathleen, Lorraine, Cindy and Kelly, her nephews Dennis, Toby, Shawn and Jason, as well as the Sisters of the Divine Compassion.
The wake for Sr. Pat will be on Sunday, September 14, 2025 from 4:00 pm-7:00 pm at McMahon, Lyon & Hartnett Funeral Home White Plains and at the Chapel of the Divine Compassion in White Plains on Monday, September 15 from 9:30 am -10:30 am.
The Ritual of Welcome will be at 10: 30 am, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in White Plains.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Sisters of the Divine Compassion, 52 N. Broadway, White Plains, NY 10603