Marie S. Schmidt(1918-2012)
Marie Schmidt was born Marie Borgia Slyker in Detroit, Michigan on June
16, 1918 to Francis and Loretta (Lawson) Slyker. Marie cultivated
countless lifelong relationships during childhood, at college, during
her professional life, and in her work as a volunteer. She was schooled
at St Mary's, in Detroit, Michigan, and graduated with both a B.S. in
Science and a teaching credential from St Joseph's college in
Emmitsburg, Maryland. She later received an associate degree in library
technology from Fullerton College, in Fullerton, California.
Marie married Frederick William Schmidt II on June 21, 1941. They settled for a time in New Jersey, where their first five children were born. In 1951 Fred received an attractive job offer in California, so the family moved to Whittier, California, where the rest of the children were born. In 1966 the family moved to Placentia, Californis, where Marie resided the rest of her life. She stayed in constant contact with her fellow St Joseph's Alumni. As the children grew in southern California, Marie worked as a clerk in department stores, and as the children matured, she began a second career selling newspaper advertising. In this capacity she made and benefited from friendships that lasted well beyond her professional life.
Marie later joined the Placentia Historical Society, the Yorba Linda Historical Society and the Placentia Library District Historical Committee, and functioned as a docent for the Bradford House. To say Marie was an active volunteer for the City of Placentia and great source of knowledge regarding local history is an understatement. She truly loved her volunteer work, and loved the friends she made and the accomplishments they all shared. Marie was a devout member of St Joseph's Catholic Church in Placentia for nearly 50 years. She was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed collecting dolls and rousing game of Scrabble. Her friends meant a great deal to her. A usual night for Marie was one spent talking on the phone to a fellow Placentia volunteer or a to friend from college "back East."
Marie was considered a "historical volunteer extraordinaire", and her work over the years was repeatedly recognized by Placentia's city council. It was in late 2011 that Marie officially retired from her volunteer work at the Placentia Public Library's History Room, which she, along with friends and associates Pat Irot and Pat Jertberg, created in 1991. In January 2012, the trio were officially recognized by the Placentia city council for their 20+ years of work founding and maintaining the History Room. Marie was also a former chairperson and an emeritus member of the Placentia Historical Society, as well as being an active member of the Orange County Historical Society, the Yorba Linda Historical Society and the Placentia Library District Historical Committee. Her other volunteer works included the Placentia Round Table Club, Cub Scouts, Girls Scouts, and School Parents Clubs of California. She was a docent at the historic Bradford House, and continued docent work there even after retirement from the History Room. She was considered one of the most productive volunteers in local history, and the the Placentia Library's History Room remains as a testament to her work in the field of preserving the city's history for future generations.
By 94, Marie had survived her husband Frederick (who himself passed on October 1, 1998), her parents, her four brothers and four sisters-in-law (Francis and Helen, Charles and Lucile, Jack and Eleanor and Bob and Kay), her three older children, Barbara Emma, Frederick William III and Roderick Lawson, and granddaughters Deanna Marie and Breanna Barbara(who had passed when in their infancy). Marie is survived by her children, Robert Paul, David Glenn, Michael Quentin, Patricia Marie and Diane Lucile, ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins across the country.
After two months of illness, Marie passed away comfortably in her sleep on October 1, 2012 at the age of 94.
Marie married Frederick William Schmidt II on June 21, 1941. They settled for a time in New Jersey, where their first five children were born. In 1951 Fred received an attractive job offer in California, so the family moved to Whittier, California, where the rest of the children were born. In 1966 the family moved to Placentia, Californis, where Marie resided the rest of her life. She stayed in constant contact with her fellow St Joseph's Alumni. As the children grew in southern California, Marie worked as a clerk in department stores, and as the children matured, she began a second career selling newspaper advertising. In this capacity she made and benefited from friendships that lasted well beyond her professional life.
Marie later joined the Placentia Historical Society, the Yorba Linda Historical Society and the Placentia Library District Historical Committee, and functioned as a docent for the Bradford House. To say Marie was an active volunteer for the City of Placentia and great source of knowledge regarding local history is an understatement. She truly loved her volunteer work, and loved the friends she made and the accomplishments they all shared. Marie was a devout member of St Joseph's Catholic Church in Placentia for nearly 50 years. She was an excellent seamstress, enjoyed collecting dolls and rousing game of Scrabble. Her friends meant a great deal to her. A usual night for Marie was one spent talking on the phone to a fellow Placentia volunteer or a to friend from college "back East."
Marie was considered a "historical volunteer extraordinaire", and her work over the years was repeatedly recognized by Placentia's city council. It was in late 2011 that Marie officially retired from her volunteer work at the Placentia Public Library's History Room, which she, along with friends and associates Pat Irot and Pat Jertberg, created in 1991. In January 2012, the trio were officially recognized by the Placentia city council for their 20+ years of work founding and maintaining the History Room. Marie was also a former chairperson and an emeritus member of the Placentia Historical Society, as well as being an active member of the Orange County Historical Society, the Yorba Linda Historical Society and the Placentia Library District Historical Committee. Her other volunteer works included the Placentia Round Table Club, Cub Scouts, Girls Scouts, and School Parents Clubs of California. She was a docent at the historic Bradford House, and continued docent work there even after retirement from the History Room. She was considered one of the most productive volunteers in local history, and the the Placentia Library's History Room remains as a testament to her work in the field of preserving the city's history for future generations.
By 94, Marie had survived her husband Frederick (who himself passed on October 1, 1998), her parents, her four brothers and four sisters-in-law (Francis and Helen, Charles and Lucile, Jack and Eleanor and Bob and Kay), her three older children, Barbara Emma, Frederick William III and Roderick Lawson, and granddaughters Deanna Marie and Breanna Barbara(who had passed when in their infancy). Marie is survived by her children, Robert Paul, David Glenn, Michael Quentin, Patricia Marie and Diane Lucile, ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins across the country.
After two months of illness, Marie passed away comfortably in her sleep on October 1, 2012 at the age of 94.