Carmelite Gulotta Smith
Funeral services for Carmelite Gulotta Smith, age 99, of Ruston, will be held at 11 a.m., Monday Dec. 30, 2019, at St. Thomas Catholic Church, with Father Al Jost officiating. Interment will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Ruston under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Ruston.
Carmelite was born in New Orleans, LA, on July 14, 1920, to George J. Gulotta and Mary Pinto Gulotta. Carmelite passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019, at her home after a lengthy illness.
Carmelite was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church where she was a member of the sanctuary building committee. She was also a member of the Ruston garden club, Saint Thomas women’s Guild and St. Vincent DePaul society.
She earned her Bachelor Degree from Loyola University in New Orleans. Carmelite was a science teacher at Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans, LA. To those in the community she will likely be remembered as the lady who reared six sons, five of whom went on to be doctors and one a judge, but she was much more than that. ShewasCarmelite Rita Gulotta, the petite refined Italian Catholic from the big city of New Orleans who married Joe Smith, the country boy from Dubach in the heart of Southern Baptist territory. It was culture clash but through her loving kindness, patience, feistiness and hard work it somehow worked.
Carmelite is preceded in death by her parents George J. and Mary Pinto Gulotta, spouse Dr. Joseph L. Smith, son Dr. Joseph Mitchell Smith.
Carmelite is survived by her daughter in law Esma Smith, Sons: Dr. George and Jenni Smith, Judge Wayne and Polly Smith, Drs. Tommy and Nancy Smith, Dr. Billy and Kelly Smith and Dr. Jimmy and Laura Smith.
She had 22 grandchildren: Mitch Smith, Ted Smith (Nicole), Joy Smith Bishop(Casey), Brian Smith (Marianne), David Smith(Kathleen), Mary Katherine Smith Russell (Russ), Cade Gibson, Amy Smith Burnett (Wade), Jack Smith (Addie), Earl Smith (Amy), Carmie Smith Duncan (Ross), Drs. Ross Smith (Paige), Jason Smith (Paige), Dr. Phillip Smith (Abby), Mike Smith(Danielle), Dr. Andy Smith (Katy), Tucker Smith, Grace Smith, Craig Smith, Todd Smith (Emily), Erin Smith and Daniel Smith. 31 Great-Grandchildren, and many other family and friends.
Pallbearers are her grandsons: Mitch Smith, Brian Smith, Jack Smith, Ross Smith, Mike Smith and Craig Smith.
Honorary Pallbearers are Ted Smith, David Smith, Cade Gibson, Earl Smith, Jason Smith, Phillip Smith, Andy Smith, Tucker Smith, Todd Smith and Daniel Smith.
She loved the CCA and the Ruston Garden Club and she took part in her favorite charities which include St. Jude’s hospital and the wounded warrior’s project both of which were close to her heart.
Planned memorials may be made to CCA, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, The Wounded Warriors Project or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.
