Jane Frances Schmidt

She has six siblings----Rosemary, Bebe, Father Jack (Catholic priest), Marjorie (Maryknoll sister) (all deceased). Survived by sisters, Elaine and Marilyn. Jane also had many cherished nieces and nephews.

Jane is survived by her five children, 20 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren, whom she loved so very much.

Jane wrote letters to Paul, a local boy, while he was serving overseas. This was the beginning of a romance that lasted 63 years, as they were married May 29, 1948. Persistent Jane, cleaned 10,000 used bricks to be used to build their first family home in Wardsville, Missouri. Four cherished children---Joe, Mary Jane, Elaine, and Ann were born to the couple. Jane was a devoted wife and mother, who spent her days, caring for her children, gardening, canning and welcoming neighbors and relatives to their home.

After just six years of marriage, Paul was severely injured while working on the Missouri River Bridge. Eight months after Paul’s accident, their treasured son, David, was born. Due to Paul’s disability, he was not able to work. The wet Missouri weather forced the family to move to Phoenix, AZ. Paul stayed home with the children and Jane went to work at St. Joseph’s Hospital, as a medical technologist and geneticist for 20 years. Jane has many coworkers from St. Joe’s whom she has kept as dear friends since retiring.

When asked, what’s wrong with the world these days? Jane would answer, “People need to have more parties!!” She hosted parties for birthdays, baptisms, graduations, weddings, anniversaries and all holidays.

Jane was a faithful, active member of St. Simon and Jude Church for 60 plus years, and as of late, a faithful member of St. Francis Xavier Church.

Jane had an insatiable desire to help those less fortunate herself. She opened her home to foreign exchange students, unwed mothers-to-be, and troubled friends and relatives.

Jane volunteered at First Way, for 20 years---counseling and aiding mothers of unplanned pregnancies. She volunteered every Monday night at SSJ’s St. Vincent de Paul pantry----praying with and handing out food to the hungry and homeless. As a volunteer, Jane made even more dear forever friends.

Each of us had the fortune to share life with a great, beautiful, strong and loving lady.

A rosary will be said at St. Francis Xavier Church at 10: 45am on Saturday, June 25, 2022. A funeral Mass will immediately follow at 11:00am. A celebration of life reception will be held at St. Simon and Jude gymnasium immediately following the funeral Mass.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Vincent de Paul pantry at St. Simon and Jude Church.