Charlotte Adele Schwab Schmidt
Sept. 6, 1929 – May 22, 2023
(paid obituary)
Charlotte Adele Schwab Schmidt, 93, of Portland, and Palm Desert, Calif., peacefully died on May 22, 2023.
Charlotte’s life celebration will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 575 E College St., in Mt Angel, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023. The Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m., with a funeral Mass at 11 a.m., officiated by Father Ralph Recker OSB.
An event not to be missed will follow in St. Mary’s Hall and around Mt. Angel. For those in the area, we will also meet the next day at the Weingarten for a memorable first day of Oktoberfest get-together.
Charlotte has given her time, love, and tenderness to many things over her life, and in death, it’s no different.
She has donated her remains and will be helping medical students learn through hands-on experience in the classrooms of Loma Linda University (www.medicine.llu.edu).
As Charlotte’s earthly body continues to help the next generation of medical students, her soul finds rest within the loving arms of her husband, Norm, and with the family members who have gone before her: parents Paul Schwab and Eleanor Fischer Schwab; siblings Marlene Irma Schwab Hoy and Lois Eleanor Schwab Tracy; and many Schwab and Schmidt relatives and dear friends.
Charlotte was born Friday, Sept. 6, 1929, in the Silverton hospital a few miles from her home in Mt. Angel. Her childhood residence was four blocks from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and she lived close to many Schwab family members.
Her grandfather, Fred Schwab, was the first mayor of Mt. Angel. Her father, Paul, worked at his father’s business, The Fred Schwab Commission Company, a grain and hops wholesaler. Her mother, Eleanor Fisher Schwab, was a bright candle who befriended everyone.
Charlotte lost her father when she was 12 years old. Being the oldest of the siblings, it fell to her to help with the other children.
Once they moved to Salem, she was a student, babysitter, laundry/dry cleaner worker, strawberry picker (for one day), teenager, errand runner, soda fountain worker, prom organizer volunteer, classmate, cousin, friend, sister, and daughter.
In 1947, she graduated with her high school diploma from Sacred Heart Academy in Salem.
Education has always been an essential part of Charlotte’s life. Her family and the Catholic community of her childhood helped her focus her goals toward nursing.
In 1947 she started the nurse’s training program at Providence Hospital in Portland. She entered the three-year program to become a registered nurse.
Throughout her training, she did several rotations in Oregon hospitals: OB/GYN, pediatrics and well baby care, and psychiatry. And as we all know, her favorite part was the babies.
She graduated with her registered nurse’s pin, cap, and cape in August 1950 and got a job at Salem General Hospital.
Charlotte met Norman Albert Schmidt through mutual friends, and Norm immediately knew they would marry.
The day they met, he dropped Charlotte off on her residence floor at Providence Hospital and asked what her last name was. She told him, and he laughed.
“What a name, Charlotte Schwab,” he said. “Well, your name isn’t any better,” she told him.
Then as he held the elevator door open, he looked at her and said, “I’m going to marry you.”
Charlotte retorted with, “You’re crazy; I am not getting married to anyone.”
And he smiled at her as the doors closed.
Charlotte and Norm were married in Salem on July 14, 1951. After 64 loving years as husband and wife, Charlotte’s soulmate died in 2015.
Their legacy of faith, family, and deep love for each other continues in their 10 children, 26 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
Charlotte is survived by her brother, Ronald Edward Schwab (Myrna), multiple cousins, and her children Ric (Lynette), LuAnn, Frank (Tina), Jacob, Ellen (Fred), Carolyn (Brian), Donna (Jeff), Amy (Mark), Sarah (Noel), and Martha (Matt).
Also surviving are grandchildren Nicholas (Kate), Jenna, Tara (Fred), Sam (Isabel), Tim, Rosa (TJ), Mary (Daniel), Erin (Jonathan), Kaitlyn (Nick), Sean, Joshua (Virginia), Chris, Rachael (Adam), Jeremiah (Heather), Elizabeth, Kathryn, Amanda (Evan), Joel (Shauna), Hannah, Adam (Sarah), Adele (Josh), Nathan (Shelley), Angelina, Gabe, Paul (Hailey), and Danica.
Great-grandchildren are Ada, Julian, Molly, Mateo, Clara, Abigail, Evelyn, Eliana, Aurora, Charlotte, Gwenova, Coralee, Aniya, Ivy, Mayla, and Henry.
And, since Charlotte touched so many souls with her kindness and love, all readers of this article are one of her children.
She embodied tenderness and compassion, and everything she did brought love to everyone around her. She would make each person feel like they are a part of the family.
In 2018, Charlotte Schwab Schmidt wrote and published her memoir, “Love is a Family: Memoir of a Lifetime.”
It is a compilation of inspirational stories that begins with her parents’ background, their marriage, and Charlotte’s birth. She tells of her life from childhood through adulthood, with the birth of her ten children and the many adventures the family engaged in.
Towards the end, she reflects on her time with her loving husband and says, “We are best friends. We deeply love each other. We share a common religion and viewpoint of life. We agree with how we should live and how to enjoy life. We didn’t try to influence or control each other. We respected each other’s individual freedoms, viewpoints, and feelings. And we were eager to share life’s experiences with one another” (page 283).
Their 64-year marriage gave them multiple experiences to share, and this final adventure brings them together forever.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be given to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (www.jdrf.org).
Charlotte’s loving family wishes to thank you for your contributions.
Charlotte and her family’s legacy lives on in educators, nurses, doctors, and more. Her smile will live on for generations to come.
Information for Lebanon Local’s death notices is gathered from from Legacy.com, Huston Jost, Weddle, Sweet Home Funeral, Aasum-Dufour Funeral Home, & Fisher Funeral. If you would like to make sure a notice of a loved one’s passing is included, contact your funeral home or call Lebanon Local at (541) 367-2136.
Beverly Alice Addington, 87, of Lebanon, died Monday, May 22, 2023.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Michael Beemer, 79, of Lebanon, died June 7, 2023.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Emmett Blackman, 71, of Lebanon, died May 29, 2023.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Steven Beaudoin, 65, of Noti, formerly of Lebanon, died May 17, 2023.
Weddle Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.
Wesley E. Burns Jr., 70, of Lebanon, died May 19, 2023.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
John “Sidney” Willis Byrd, 77, of Lebanon, died May 4, 2023.
A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 22, at Brownsville, Baptist Cemetery on Seven Mile Lane in Brownsville.
Huston -Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Kenneth “Ken” Leon Cruise, 67, of Lebanon, died May 23, 2023.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Hazelnut Haven in Tangent at 3 p.m. on June 3.
A memorial Texas Hold ’Em poker tournament will start at 4:30 p.m. at the same location.
If you are interested in playing, contact the family.
Bruce E. Darby, 58, of Lebanon, died June 7, 2023.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Omar Noel Falk, 80, a longtime Lebanon resident, died May 20, 2023, in Salem.
Weddle Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.
Steven Craig Froemke, 63, of Lebanon, died on May 23, 2023.
A celebration of life will be held at Waterloo Park (Shelter 3) at 1 p.m. on July 1, with a potluck to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the family to help defray unexpected expenses.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Albert Allen Gentry, 87, of Lebanon, died June 1, 2023.
A small Celebration of Life will be held by invitation only at a later date.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Roland “Pete” Lynn Graham, 80, of Lebanon, died May 25, 2023 with his wife, daughters and dog Leo by his side.
A memorial service with military honors was held June 9 at Waterloo Park.
A celebration of life will occur on Aug. 11 in Kuna, Idaho and his ashes will be placed in the Owyhee Mountains of Idaho and Oregon per his request by his family.
Weddle Funeral Service is handling the arrangements.
Hank W. Kemper, 62, of Lebanon, died May 31, 2023, at his home.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Kenneth L. Salisbury, 77, of Albany, died May 17, 2023, at the Lebanon Veteran’s Home.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Lyle R. Springer, 87, of Lebanon, died May 21, 2023 at the Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Gary August Toadtemeier, 81, of Lebanon died May 15, 2023.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Lester M. Yoder, 88, of Lebanon, died May 16, 2023.
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the giver’s favorite charity or Lacomb Bible Church.
Huston-Jost Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.