Claire Justine (Hess) Smith

Claire Justine (Hess) Smith, passed away peacefully on March 12, 2026. She was born May 26, 1932 in San Antonio, TX, to Leonard M. Hess and Mary A. Rodesney. She was the oldest of 6 children and her early life was spent on the Hess Ranch and the family home in Marathon, TX.

Claire received her B.A. in Economics from Fontbonne College, St. Louis, MO., in 1954. She married Paul R. Grabowski in 1956, his career with GE took the family to live in Texas, Connecticut, Illinois and Kentucky. Though she lived in several states throughout her life, Texas was always HOME and where her heart longed to return. She loved the wide landscapes, big open night skies, wildflowers, and her beloved Leonard Mountain on her family’s ranch.

Claire was gracious, independent, thoughtful, stubborn, energetic, colorful, gregarious, creative, and full of joy, living her life always on her own terms. Her passions included many artistic pursuits like painting and sketching, she exhibited her art locally, nationally and internationally. She taught painting classes and was a member of the Louisville Water Color Society. In 1968 she published a book of poetry, Thursday’s Child and her poetry was included in several poetry anthologies. She loved music and reading, and was very adept at knitting and crocheting. Claire worked at Frame Makers Gallery, St. Matthews Blue Print and retired from JC Penney’s, all in Louisville KY. In later life she moved back to Texas to help care for her Mother, then to TN and back to Louisville, KY in 2017 where she made new friends at Sacred Heart Village and continued her creative hobbies. After a fall mid-2024 she moved to Cherokee Park Rehab and Long Term Care. She loved reading the newspaper every day and going for long car rides on weekends with her daughter and her Starbucks coffee. She enjoyed outings with friend Eric who took her for drives and Art exhibitions. She truly made the best of each new living situation with grace and confidence.

Claire was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ruth Hess Goss, brother’s Mark and John Hess, first husband Paul R. Grabowski, second husband Frank Smith, nieces Terry and Julie.

Left to cherish her memory are her children, Jean Elizabeth Grabowski, Paul R. Grabowski II, Jon D. Grabowski, grandchildren Amanda, Joshua, Brandon, Shannon, great grandchild Kelsey. Her sister Margaret Hess (Larry) Rourke, brother Paul (Katherine) Hess, sister-in-law Jeanne Hess. Nieces and nephews Alex, Chris, Karen, Mark, Eric, Stephen, Lisa, Bryan, Charlie, Tim, Arthur, David, Cathy, Peggy, Ted, Karl, Alex, Ann and Michael. Her special cousin Joe (Celeste) Courand and longtime friend Bishop Michael D. Pfeifer, OMI. Good friends Ruth McCarthy, Ruth Tunks, and Anna Green and friends who kept her healthy, centered and happy, Richard Shay DDS, Eric Epstein DC and Brenda Graham, LMT.

Special thanks to the staff at Cherokee Park Long Term Care especially Stephanie R. Franklin for making her last year and a half fun and enjoyable, singing, and laughing together. We are grateful to the staff of Baptist Health especially Palliative Care and Hosparus Health during the last two weeks of her life. A special thank you to Father Gerald (Jerry) Bell.

Per her request no services are planned.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

- John 14: 1-4

“Till we meet again, Create Joy each day, love Claire Justine”

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