Donna Schmidt – May 13, 1935 to March 6, 2018

Donna H. Schmidt of Churchville, PA went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at Abington Jefferson Health Hospice at Warminster.  She was 82.

Born in Gray, Iowa she was the wife of the late James G. Schmidt and the daughter of the late Peter and Ivah King Petersen.  She married Jim on January 25, 1958 until he passed on February 14, 2002.  This year was their 60^th anniversary.

Everyone who met Donna Schmidt says the same thing: “she’s a tough ol’ bird,” “she’s unstoppable,” “she’s a pistol,” “she always spoke her mind” and “she truly cared for people.”  That sums up Donna. 

Donna had a deep expressive heart that lavished her family with gifts, loving the time that she got to spend with her children (Troy & Tami), their spouses (Barbie & Jim), her grandchildren (Riley/Audrey, Brady/Alana, Carson, Jaret) and recently her great-grandchild (Penelope). 

She loved playing cards, which showed her competitive nature, but most of all, those games were times to gather with friends and talk about the world (okay let’s call it what it was---gossip).

Donna lit up every room she walked into, making her presence felt.  Whether it was a party, Wegmans, Chicos or church, Donna socialized with as many as she could, dropping one-liners with that twinkle in her eye.  You knew she was thinking something sly and devious, ready to offer her opinion or her humor.

She made friends everywhere she went.  If you were standing in line with her, she would find out where you were from, why you were there, your family history and your line of work.  She had a way making everyone feel comfortable and easy to talk to.

One other word always comes to mind when people think of Donna and that’s a “fighter.”  When her husband Jim was diagnosed with lung cancer, she took care of him and stopped smoking herself (after 40 plus years) completely cold turkey.  Patches and gum she saw as a weakness.  When Jim was diagnosed with M.S., Donna bought a lift vehicle to wheel his scooter around and drove both of them down to Florida to visit the grandkids.  When Jim was on hospice, Donna demanded he be moved home and took care of him around the clock.

With her husband gone, Donna didn’t sit around, pull the shades and mourn in isolation.  She got out and became a model of how people should grieve.  She joined more Weekender organizations, card clubs, widow groups and drove, drove, drove to gathering after gathering.  Donna took others to their appointments or picked them up at the airport.  I-95 didn’t scare this ol’ lady.

When she herself heard the words “lung cancer,” she knew it was her fault and gave chemotherapy and radiation a run, but when it slowed her down too much, she rejected another round and opted instead to embrace her 100 mph lifestyle over sitting in chairs and wasting away.  She hated being pushed around in a wheelchair and using a walker.  It slowed her down! She wanted to leave this earth sprinting. 

And that’s what she did.

The doctors gave her one and a half years to live, but Donna had more life in her.  Without treatment Donna doubled that prognosis and by the grace of God outlived almost all of her friends and went out her way.

Up to the last months of her life, she drove to the airport, flew to Orlando for Christmas and hung out with her Florida family.  She always drove up to New Jersey to see her youngest grandson Jaret, who she could spoil and love.

Life was a fast-lane for Donna, but eventually life forced her to hit the brakes.

The Friday before she died, Donna said “let’s do this” and said goodbye to all her kids and grandkids.  Oxygen was removed.  Pain medication given, but Donna continued to fight.  For five days on light oxygen, no food and no liquids, Donna gave death a final one-two, eventually succumbing Tuesday afternoon.

She had a quiet faith in God, evidenced by the Bibles and daily readings that surrounded her house.  She served at church as a greeter (perfect job, right) and helped out when needed.

Life will be a little quieter and a little slower without her, but life was a little better with her.

Donna is survived by her loving and devoted children: Troy E. Schmidt and his wife Barbie of Windermere, FL and Tami M. Haupt and her husband Jim of Succasunna, NJ.  She is also survived by her dear grandchildren: Riley, Brady, and Carson Schmidt and Jaret Haupt and her great granddaughter Penelope.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend her viewing on Saturday, March 10, 2018 from 11:00am until her Funeral Service, 12 Noon in Addisville Reformed Church, 945 Second Street Pike, Richboro, PA 18954. Interment will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center at https://giving.mskcc.org/.