Katina Laberge-Smith

Katina Laberge Smith (née Yordon/Yordan)

Katina Laberge Smith (née Yordon/Yordan) passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, in Merced, California , at the age of 96. She was born on September 23, 1929, in Fresno, California.

Katina is lovingly survived by her nieces and nephews, cousins, stepchildren, and her longtime friend and devoted caregiver, Camille Mays of Fresno. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jerry Smith.

From an early age, Katina possessed a remarkable passion for music. She moved to San Francisco to pursue her dream of performing in opera and musical theater, where she enjoyed an accomplished career on stage. She appeared in numerous productions with the San Francisco Opera at the War Memorial Opera House. Among her most memorable performances was singing in the chorus of Verdi’s Aida, a production that became internationally recognized for its groundbreaking and controversial staging.

Katina was also a frequent performer with San Francisco’s Lamplighters Music Theatre, appearing in many Gilbert and Sullivan productions. Some of her favorite and most memorable roles included The Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, and The Pirates of Penzance.

Years later, Katina returned to her hometown of Fresno, where she continued sharing her gift of music through local musical theater productions. Her talent was especially celebrated at the Roger Rocha Theatre, where she performed alongside Fresno’s own Ann Sullivan in Mame. It was also at the Roger Rocha Theatre where she met the love of her life, Jerry Smith. They later married, and Katina often said that meeting Jerry was the greatest blessing of her life.

Katina will be remembered for her beautiful voice, her love of the performing arts, her mischievous sense of humor, her honest opinions, and the countless smiles she brought to those lucky enough to know her. Her legacy lives on through the family and friends who loved her and through the many audiences whose lives she touched with her performances.

A Funeral Service celebrating Katina’s life will be held on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Fresno, California. Family and friends are warmly invited to attend as they gather to honor her life, celebrate her remarkable legacy, and share cherished memories of her life.

Remembrances may be made to the St. George Greek Orthodox Church,
Fresno.

We encourage you to leave memories and upload photos to the memorial page as we remember Katina Laberge-Smith, a woman whose life was a symphony of love, passion, and extraordinary talent.