Venita was born in Lampasas, Texas to Ada Lorena Biddy Gaddy and Alfred Lefel Gaddy on January, 9, 1940. She moved to Austin with mother and brother at the age of five. She was placed in a Girls Settlement Home where she received valuable early education and training. Venita graduated from McCallum High School in 1958 and attended college at Nixon-Clay Business School.
She married Pat Schied in December of 1958 and was married for 44 years. Pat passed away in March 2003. Pat and Venita met in Austin while Pat was on active duty with the Air Force. They were transferred to Amarillo, Texas in 1963 and then to Plattsburgh, New York in 1968. When Pat retired from military duty in 1973, they returned to Austin. Pat and Venita had two children. Kendyle Dianne, who died shortly after birth on December 9th, 1959 and Stacie Elaine, born on June 22, 1968. Stacie married Greg Fiebrich and had twins, Mason Andrew and Loren Averie. Venita returned to work with the Texas Department of Highways and Public Transportation in 1973, retiring 27 years later in 1996.
Venita loved her family and friends and devoted her time and attention to helping them in every way she could. You could always rely on her to be where she said she would be with a strong determination to not let people down. One of her fellow workers gave her the title of “Typhoid Mary” because she would go to work when she was sick so that other people would not be burdened in doing her chores. Her work was very important to her as well as the opinions of her coworkers and friends.
Venita tried to not intentionally offend anyone. She would often be a mediator to help resolve other people’s problems - a true peacemaker. She hated to see conflicts and arguments among friends or relatives. Often times she would not say anything if she thought it would cause controversy.
Venita was the ultimate worrier – not only for herself, but for others as well. She felt that she needed to help fix everything. It might be because she was an Administrative Assistant all her working life that she felt she could help others with their problems in some way. Give her a problem and she would worry for you or give her no problems and she would still worry about something. Her worrying stopped some after a close neighbor reminded her that God wants us all to bring all worries to him. She learned to pray and ask God to help when worries became too strong. She said that this seemed to relieve her.
Having a small extended family, the circles of friends that she and Pat got close to were considered her “family” and were valued deeply. Venita wanted to say to them how much she appreciated each and every one. Even though time passed with little communications, these thoughtful, loving friends stayed in her heart and memory.
I know Venita will be looking down from heaven to make sure things are going okay, particularly with her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren. They were the light of her life. Even though she may be looking after us from above, her worrying and trying to help has stopped.
Venita, you were a very kind, loving and caring Mother, Mother-in-law and Grandma “Neenee” and will be missed by all of us including numerous nieces, nephews.
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