Cathy (Walsh) Smith

Catherine “Cathy” Smith, 70, of Riverside, passed away on Thursday, January 8, 2026 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.  Visitation will be held on Monday, January 12, 2026 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services of Riverside.  Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Riverside.  A time of food and fellowship will be held at the church following the services.  Online condolences for the family may be sent to www.sandhfuneralservice.com. 

Catherine Walsh Smith was born on August 30, 1955, in Grinnell, Iowa, the daughter of Howard and Mary (Muelhaupt) Walsh.  Cathy was adopted through the Christ Child Home in Des Moines.  She graduated from Dowling High School in West Des Moines and went on to obtain her nursing degree from Iowa Methodist School of Nursing.  She later went back to school at the University of Iowa where she graduated with her Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing.  On July 28, 1979, Cathy was united in marriage to Randy Smith at Sacred Heart in West Des Moines.  Cathy worked many years as a nurse including working at the Katzmann Breast Center in West Des Moines and several years at the University of Iowa in nursing before she retired in July of 2021.  Cathy was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Riverside, where she was very active with volunteering and using her sewing talents to provide all baptismal garments for those new baptized to the church.  She was a member of the Oncology Nursing Association and a former member of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church of Des Moines.  Cathy enjoyed cooking, traveling, sewing, visiting her cabin and driving her side by side.  Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family and friends and cheering on the Hawkeyes. 

Cathy will be deeply missed by her husband, Randy Smith; children, Bryan Smith of Cedar Rapids, Nicolette (Donnie) Edwards of Riverside and Austin Smith of Des Moines; grandchildren, Khaven, Taylor, Olivia and D.J.; great-grandchildren, Wrenley, Summit and Mackenzie and many close relatives. 

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Dan Walsh and aunts and uncles.   

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