Malachy Smith Obituary

Our deepest sympathy to the Father Malachy Smith, O'Carm family. He was a very dear friend of our family. Our relationship goes back to the late 1940's when he was at Mount Carmel, Chicago; and through his tour of duty at the Carmelite Provincial House in Barrington, IL.

It is a great loss to us personally and to the Carmelite Order. A donation will be made in his name to the Daniel Frainey Memorial Scholarship Fund (Carmel High School) Mundelein, IL.



The Ray Frainey Family

We shall indeed miss Father Mal who was a guiding light for many of us in Barrington. He was an outspoken defender of the faith who was an inspiration to all of us. May God now enjoy his wit and his presence.

father mal was a special person that came into our family life. he was a truly caring person and we will miss him.

ken mogge family

My husband was a classmate of Father Malachy's during their high school days up at Niagra Falls. Throughout the years Father Malachy has been part of our family, sharing family dinners, summer pool parties out in Barrington, and visits when he came to town. We cannot say enough about him. He was such a loving and caring man and he will be missed dearly. We love you and God bless!

Fr. Malachy assisted at St. Ansgar Parish in Hanover Park, IL in the seventies. We attended his Children the Challange, Marriage Enrichment and Church History classes. Many of his ideas are still influencing our family's life today. We will miss him.

My wife and I attended Fr. Mal's funeral and found many families and priest that considered Fr. Mal to be their closest friend, spiritual leader and confidant. He was the man for the day as the church entered changes, and he made the changes make sense. He can not be replaced, but remembered. He will always be with us. A copy of the eulogy will be made available. It framed his life and its importance to us. All of my expectations that the Carmelites would make it a beautiful day were realized. Thank you all for that! 33 priests concelebrated the mass. People packed the chapel. Fr. would be proud.



Tim and Tisha McBride

Fr. Mal had a wealth of common sense and moral clarity. He helped many people on this earth and we know he is now in the loving care of his Creator! He was a great friend and we were very fortunate to have had him in our lives!

I went to the seminary at Niagara in 1949 and had Fr Malachy as my freshman Latin teacher, college European History teacher, dean of students, coach, academic advisor and friend. In all those capacities he was an extraordinary man and an exemplary priest. Later on, as provincial superior, he honored me by asking me to join the faculty at his beloved Mount Carmel College, then gave me and my colleagues there great support and encouragement. Three years ago I had a reunion with him during which we shared many happy memories and I had a chance to tell him how much I honored and respected him and how powerful an influence he had been in my life. Since his death last Thursday I've thought often of that conversation and have been grateful to God that I had that time with him. Fr Malachy--Mal to everyone who knew and loved him--was a true Brother of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and a priest after the heart of Jesus Christ. Many of us have been blessed to have him as part of our lives and are poorer for his passing. May he rest in peace.

Father Mal was a such an understanding and wise man. We will certainly miss him but we now know why he was taken when he was...to be there for the Columbia astronauts and to guide them to heaven. Rest in peace, Father, but continue to guide us here on earth and bring comfort to those in need.

Mal was a big influence in my life. I pray that he led a happy life and is enjoying right now.

We mill miss him dearly.