Obituary of Joan Schmitt

Age 80, passed away February 4, 2015 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's Disease. Joan was born April 9, 1934, in Elmira, the daughter of the late Charles D. O'Hara and Bernice Butler O'Hara. She is also predeceased by her husband of 52 years, Francis C. Schmitt. Surviving Joan are children: Charles Francis (Betsy) Schmitt of Jacksonville FL, Mary Elizabeth (Tom) Hartman of Huntersville NC and Joan Marie (Kirk) Fedor of Elmira; grandchildren: Christopher Francis and Patrick Connor Schmitt, Emma Kate and Alex Thomas Hartman, Daniel Patrick and Megan Elizabeth Fedor; sister and brother-in-law Kathleen and James Judge of Silver Spring MD; along with several nieces and nephews. Joan earned her B.S. from the College of Mount St. Vincent in 1956. Upon graduation she was a Second Grade Teacher in Lloyd Harbor NY. She left teaching to raise her family. In 1969 she returned to Elmira when Frank was transferred with Thatcher Glass. Joan was a firm believer in education and went on to earn her M.S. from Elmira College in 1987. There was only one hobby she loved more than reading, and that was writing. Joan was a proud member of the Elmira Writer's Club. She was also a member of the League of Women Voters and a volunteer at the Community Kitchen. She was a communicant of Our Lady of Lourdes/Christ the Redeemer Parish for the past 45 years. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 11:00 a.m., Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Elmira. Joan's family would like to thank everyone from the Elderwood Memory Care Unit for the outstanding care given Joan the past few years.