Anita Francene Smith

Anita Francene (Lazar) Smith, 72, of Blairsville, PA, passed away peacefully on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the Communities at Indian Haven, Indiana, PA.

The daughter of Valentine J. Lazar and Ann (Kowalcheck) Lazar, she was born on September 8, 1953, in Philadelphia, PA.

Anita was a member of SS Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Blairsville and Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court St. Theresa #562.

She graduated from Blairsville High School, Class of 1971 and she went on to earn a Bachelor’s in Education from Seton Hill, followed by a Masters in Math Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Anita devoted her life to education and had the opportunity to teach at SS Simon and Jude Catholic School, Saltsburg High School and Homer Center High School. She was honored with an invitation to Space Camp in Washington D.C. specifically to study the Hubble Space Telescope.

She is survived by her loving husband of 44 years, Gary L. Smith of Blairsville whom she married on October 3, 1981; her sister, Valerie Orris of Johnstown; her brother, John Lazar (Beverly) of Henderson, NC; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Anita is preceded in death by her parents; brother, Thomas Lazar; and brother-in-law, John Orris.

A funeral Mass will be celebrated at SS. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, followed by an entombment in SS. Simon and Jude Cemetery, Blairsville, at the convenience of the family.

Shoemaker Funeral Home, Inc. at 49 N. Walnut St., Blairsville, PA 15717 has been entrusted with the arrangements.