Barbara Jidoi

Barbara Jane Smith Jidoi of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away at Jefferson Torresdale Hospital on January 5, 2025. Barbara was born on April 2, 1944, at Methodist Hospital, in Philadelphia, to Nicholas Smith and Julia Wawryk Smith. Barbara was affectionately known as “Babs”, named after Barbara Stanwyck, her mother’s favorite actress. Babs was the middle of three sisters. She was best friends with her youngest sister, Fran or Frannie, as everyone called her, and was a close, caring companion and caretaker to Fran until her death. She looked up to her oldest sister, Maryann, and was always grateful she could rely on her in her times of need. 

 Babs retired from a career in clerical support from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. Babs loved spending time with her husband, Robert, cooking and fishing. She was also a cat person and cherished her two favorite cats, Mitza and Kasha, before they both passed on. 

 Babs had a great sense of humor and everyone who met her, instantly liked her. She had a full heart and was complimentary of everyone she met. She was a person of Catholic faith and a prayer warrior. She loved listening to her Phillies on her portable radio and was also a devoted listener of the Tony Orlando and Frank Sinatra weekly radio programs. 

 She is predeceased by her husband, Robert, her parents, her sister, Fran Smith and her brother-in-law, John Jardine. She is survived by her sister, Maryann Jardine, her Goddaughter & Niece, Julie Tedford (Randy), Nieces Mary Urrutia (Ernest) and Jennifer Jardine (Scott Hubiak) and Great Niece Shannon Urrutia and Great Nephews Philip Urrutia and Dominic Urrutia. 

 A private burial service will be held at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Cemetery at a later date. 

 In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Barbara Smith Jidoi’s memory to Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey, 300 Arnold Street, Wrentham, MA 02093. Babs’ Aunt Betty was Sister Perpetua Wawryk at Mount Saint Mary’s Abbey, a Trappistine Monastery, for 66 years.