Patricia (Trish) JoAnne Smith-Brown, a beloved mother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully after a hard-fought battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was 69 years old.
Born on January 17, 1956, to Donald L. and JoAnne M. Smith, Trish grew up with a deep love for crafting and caring for others. She was known for her easy laugh, warm and giving personality, creativity, and compassion for her patients. People were often drawn to her for their shared love of cats.
As a nurse for many years, Trish touched countless lives and especially loved caring for infants and the elderly. Later in her career, she transitioned to the health insurance industry, where she helped customers navigate difficult claims.
Trish spent much of her free time crafting, most notably making gnomes for every holiday and occasion. She also loved knitting baby blankets, often gifting them to complete strangers. Baking was another passion, and she spent hours perfecting her cakes. Her favorite was coconut cake with lemon filling and buttercream frosting, often declaring that Pearson’s in Edina, MN had the closest rival to her own. For years, she tried to replicate our mother’s Christmas cookies but eventually conceded defeat, fondly stating, “Mom just had a way.”
Trish adored the History Channel and could spend hours discussing episodes of The Curse of Oak Island and The Mystery of Skinwalker Ranch, often lamenting that the secrets were taking too long to be revealed. She cherished her coffee chats with her brother, Bill, and treasured time spent with her sister, Terri, and brother-in-law, Tom. She was always grateful for the love and care of her significant other, James.
She is survived by the light of her life, her son Joshua (Robin); her beloved sister Terri (Tom); her brothers Scott (Patty) and William (Cindy); and her significant other, James. She also leaves behind her nieces, nephews, their spouses and children, and a close-knit group of friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and JoAnne Smith, and her sister-in-law, Gigi Chan.
Friends and family are invited to gather for a celebration of life (plans and date pending).
Trish will be interred at the family site at the historic Fort Howard Memorial Park in Green Bay, WI.
**Your presence is missed, and your memory will always be treasured.**
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