BAREFOOT BAY, FL – Patricia Smiley (Fitzgerald) Deauville, of Barefoot Bay, Florida, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2025, surrounded by her family, one week shy of her 100th birthday at the Kingswood Rehabilitation and Nursing Home in Wolfeboro, NH.
Patricia was born on September 25, 1925, and grew up in Tilton, NH, and witnessed a century of incredible change. She married the love of her life, Ronnie Deauville in 1945, and together they built a life filled with family, adventures, and love.
Patricia was predeceased by all four of her brothers and sisters, all of whom lived into their 90’s, with the exception of her youngest sister, Mary (Jewett) Orton who made it to 89 years old. Her brother William Fitzgerald was 96, sister Elizabeth McDermott was 95, and brother Charles Fitzgerald was also 95.
She is survived by her daughters Nancy McArdle (Jim), Elvira Hamilton (Charles); sons David Deauville (Nancy), and Jude Deauville (Bambi); grandchildren Sheri Kane, Beth Perry, James E. McArdle, Taber West, and Ryan Deauville; great-grandchildren Madison and Miles Perry, Robert and Branden White, and Rocky and Nicholas Deauville.
Patricia was exceedingly Pragmatic and was an integral part of all of her family’s lives. Her family relied on her insight and wisdom at one time or another over the years.
When Patricia’s children were quite young, she became Ronnie’s fulltime caregiver after an accident left him with a spinal cord injury which rendered him a paraplegic. Prior to this, Ronnie was a singer with the big bands, such as Tommy Dorsey, and Ray Anthony among others. Patricia had her hands full with three young children and a new baby on the way, and then Ronnie was offered a contract with Capitol Records. Off they went to California.
Despite Ronnie’s injury, Patricia and the children enjoyed California while Ronnie continued his singing career being on the Jerry Lewis Show, and Pearl Bailey among others. Patricia and the family were surprised during Ronnie’s farewell leave of show business with a surprise visit from their friend, Ralph Edwards on the “This is Your Life” show where all Patricia and Ronnie’s family, friends, etc. who touched their lives were brought in to surprise them.
A private family service will be held at a later date at the family burial site at St. Lambert’s Cemetery, in Laconia, NH.
Charitable donations may be made in memory of either the Ann Jewett-Steele or Stephen S. Jewett, III Scholarship in care of the Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, 14 Country Club Road, Gilford, NH, 03249.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services and 603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit www.wilkinsonbeane.com.