Remembering the recently deceased in the Archdiocese of Seattle

William David James GuppySeattle

William Guppy, a member of Holy Rosary Parish, died Jan. 26. He was 20.

He was born in Arlington and graduated from Bishop Blanchet High School and Seattle University, where he was a second-year honor student. He worked in the meat department at QFC.

William enjoyed the outdoors and hikes with his father.

He is survived by his parents, Paul and Diana Guppy; his brothers, Paul and Devon; his sister, Christina; his grandmother, uncles and an aunt.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Feb. 4 at Holy Rosary Church. 

Sister Marie LinehanTacoma 

Sister Marie Linehan (formerly Sister Maria Urban), a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, died April 22, three days before her 85th birthday.

She was born in County Cork, Ireland. She entered the congregation in 1945 but did not officially enter candidacy until 1948. She professed her final vows in 1950. Her sister, Sister Carmel Joseph Linehan (deceased), was also a member of the congregation. She ministered in education, child care and pastoral services.

Sister Marie ministered in the Archdiocese of Seattle for 23 years. She served as a house parent at St. Ann Home in Tacoma for 17 years. In 2010 she returned to Tacoma and lived at St. Ann Convent and served in prayer ministry until her death.

For 35 years Sister Marie served in the Diocese of Spokane and additional ministry in the Diocese of Baker in Oregon. In Spokane she was a house parent at St. Joseph Children’s Home, served as a chaplain at Sacred Heart Medical Center and was a volunteer at Hospice of Spokane.

Sister Marie is survived by her brother, Dan Linehan; her sister, Norine Fitzpatrick, and her nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian burial was celebrated April 23 at St. Ann Convent in Spokane.

Sister Shirley SmithSeattle

Sister Shirley Smith, (Sister Bibiana), a member of the Sisters of Providence for 62 years, died April 19. She was 84.

Sister Shirley was born in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and moved with her family to Oakland, California, when she was 12 years old. She received a nursing scholarship to Providence School of Nursing in Oakland. In 1952 she entered the Sisters of Providence at Mount St. Vincent in Seattle. She professed her first vows in 1954 and received the name Sister Bibiana, and final vows were professed in 1957.

In 1952 Sister Shirley received her Registered Nursing License, and in 1969 received a bachelor's degree in nursing from Seattle University. She also completed the National Association of Catholic Chaplains certification program in 1981. 

She began her ministry in 1954 as a nurse at St. Mary Hospital in Walla Walla. For 30 years she continued her ministries in nursing, healthcare administration, pastoral care and community service. Within the Archdiocese of Seattle she worked at Providence Medical Center and Mount St. Vincent in Seattle, St. John Hospital in Port Townsend, and Providence Heights in Issaquah. She also worked in California and Alaska.

Between 1971-74 and 1986-92, Sister Shirley was elected to the Provincial Council of Sacred Heart Province and was appointed assistant provincial. In 1994 she served as local superior of St. Joseph Residence. From 2000-2006 she served on the boards of directors of Providence Marianwood in Issaquah, Sojourner Place in Seattle and St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, Montana. 

Upon retirement Sister Shirley volunteered at Providence Mount St. Vincent and the Veterans Administration Hospital in Seattle. She also enjoyed baking, being outdoors and spending time with family, friends and her fellow sisters.

Sister Shirley is survived by her brother, Sean Smith of Union City, California, and her nieces and nephews.

The funeral Mass was celebrated at Providence Mount St. Vincent on April 26.