Judith Ann Smith

Our beloved mother, Judith Ann Smith, passed away on January 4, 2023 after a long battle with cancer.

Judith Ann Gourde was born in Grafton, North Dakota on May 9, 1945. She was raised on a farm in Oakwood, North Dakota with her parents and six siblings. She graduated from St. Aloysius Academy in 1963 and began working at the Walsh County Bank in Grafton. While working there, she met Gary Smith.  They married on April 24, 1965, had two daughters and lived on a farm outside of Grafton for 14 years. In 1979, they moved to Escondido, California to take over the apartments of Judy’s Aunt and Uncle. Judy got a job working at the dental office of Donald Kellar, DDS and worked there for 28 years. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, volunteering at St. Mary’s Catholic Church and making the trip up to the casino (and Las Vegas) with our dad.

Judy is survived by her husband, Gary; her children Sheri (John) LaBreche, Palos Verdes Estates, CA and Stacy (Rex) Corbett, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA; brothers Ronald (Sharon) Gourde, Raymond (Marcy) Gourde, Gene Gourde, and sister, Mary Lynn (Craig) Kinsella; five grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by son Timothy; her father Victor Gourde, her mother Jennette (Lafreniere) Gourde: brothers Joseph Gourde and Edward (Mary Lou) Gourde.

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1170 S Broadway in Escondido, California on Friday, February 24 at 10:00 am. Reception to follow at Mi Guadalaja Mexican Restaurant at 1:00 pm.