Ann Maria (Smith) Blankenship

Ann Maria (Smith) Blankenship

Ann entered God’s Kingdom at age 72, suddenly, at her home in Fishersville, Virginia on February 20, 2021.

Born May 19, 1948 in North County Dublin, Ireland, Ann, at age 19, ventured to the United States intending to spend a few years there, then traveling to Australia and finally back to Ireland. Her plans were interrupted when she met her husband-to-be Ronald. They were married on December 27, 1971 and were anticipating their 50th wedding anniversary.

She was a proud parent of three children, Amanda, Eric and Melissa. Ann’s career was as a “Domestic Engineer” assuring a loving and nurturing home for her family. During that period, she was delighted in being awarded a lifetime membership in the New York State Parent Teachers Association. During her three years as Vice President of Fundraising at her local school, the amount raised tripled that from prior contributions. In later life, she enjoyed looking after her “critters” (llamas, guinea fowl, a few chickens, her dogs and her Senegal parrot). Retiring to Florida, she learned to fish (but never to bait a hook). Grandchildren and hurricanes brought her to Virginia.

She was preceded in death by her parents Peter James Smith and Margaret (Curran) Smith; daughter Melissa; brothers Peter, Hugh and Patrick Smith.

She is survived by her husband, Ronald of Fishersville, Virginia; daughter Amanda M. Schmidt (Kevin) of Richmond, Virginia; son Eric J. Blankenship (Erin) of Apex, North Carolina; grandchildren Colin and Meghan Schmidt, Molly and Cora Blankenship; brother and sisters Tony Smith, Dublin, Ireland, Elizabeth (Lilly) Ratcliffe, North County Dublin, Ireland, Catherine (Kitty) Smith, Dublin, Ireland, and Shelagh Finnegan, Ashbourne, Ireland; and sister-in-law Fay Patrick, Covington, Kentucky; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Proud of her Irish heritage, she would have liked to leave us this thought:     

An Old Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we met again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Due to Covid-19 guidance, a “remembrance” service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions in tribute to her can be made to:

The Parkinson’s Foundation

Suite 800

200 Southeast 1st Street

Miami Fl 33131

www.parkinson.org

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