Mary Theresa Smith

Mary T. Smith, 97, of Philadelphia, passed away peacefully at her daughters’ home in Chestnut Hill on October 1, 2022 following a brief illness surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Harry W. Smith who died in 2009. Mary Theresa was born in 1925, the third of six children of the late Emile and Regina Quigley Henwood. She lived her early years on West 65th street in Philadelphia with her sisters, Regina, Eileen, Claire and brothers Emile and Thomas. She was a member of the class of 1944 at West Catholic High School, Philadelphia. During the war years she was employed by Western Union where she processed telegrams sent from the War Department notifying local families of a deceased son or father and would reminisce about how carefully these messages were handled. In 1946, while at a dance at the Chez-Vous Rollerskating Rink in Upper Darby, she met Harry, the love of her life, who was an Army Air Force veteran of WWII. The following July the two were married and would spend the rest of their lives together. The Smith family would eventually relocate to Feasterville, Pa. in 1959 to raise their six children. Together, Mary and Harry would run a successful business, Puss N’ Boots Tavern, Fairless Hills. In 1988 they retired to Lillian, Alabama where they would live for many years until finally returning to Philadelphia in 2007. Mary is survived by her daughters, Rose Marie Smith McCabe, Chestnut Hill; Janice M. Smith, Cheltenham; Anita M. Smith, Chestnut Hill; and sons Harry W. Smith, Jr., Parker, Co.; Eric D. Smith, Newtown, Pa; and Gregory M. Smith and his spouse, Elizabeth W. Smith, Mountain Top, Pa. She is also survived by her many grandchildren, great grandchildren and her sister Eileen Henwood McCullough, New Windsor, NY and her extended family. Friends and family may call on Saturday, October 8, 2022, from 9:00 A.M. at St. Genevieve's Catholic Church in Flourtown, Pennsylvania, 19031. A Funeral Mass will follow at 10:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.