Shirley Schmitt

On May 19, 2025, Shirley finally succumbed to the ravages that twelve years of dementia had inflicted on her physical body. She spent her final eight years at a full-time memory care facility. Her family prays that God showers His mercies upon her and welcomes her to His heavenly abode.

Shirley was born on June 29, 1939 in Pittsburgh, PA to the late Donald and Caroline (Speer) Hageman. She graduated from Quaker Valley High School in 1958 before attending St. John’s General Hospital School of Nursing in Pittsburgh, PA. Here, she earned a registered nursing (RN) degree in 1961.

Shirley met William (Bill) C. Schmitt at West View Danceland, and they married on May 26, 1962. They eventually bought a home and settled in the North Hills. Early in their marriage, Shirley focused on raising their two children. She could often be found volunteering in their elementary school classrooms as a room mother or selling hot dogs to the students during lunchtime before cafeterias became common in elementary schools. She encouraged and attended all her children’s activities from baton twirling to baseball. She loved vacationing with her family in Myrtle Beach, SC. During these early years, she worked part-time/second shift in all areas of nursing at several local hospitals and infirmaries.

In 1979, tragedy struck. Her beloved husband, Bill, lost a year-long battle with cancer. These circumstances forced Shirley to seek full-time employment. Interestingly, she shifted from more traditional nursing responsibilities to working in the mental health nursing environment. She began at Dixmont State Hospital, and due to hospital closures, moved around within the PA state hospital system. Eventually, she gravitated to the state correctional institutions working at SCI - Pittsburgh and finally retiring from SCI - Greensburg.

In her later years, Shirley loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. This included much-loved yearly camping adventures in New Paris, OH. She also spent over thirty years with her close friend and confidant, Bernard (Bernie) Demko, Sr.

Shirley loved serving others. Professionally, she cared for her patients and did her best to aid in their recovery. In her home, she was always cooking and baking; this was her love language. One would be hard-pressed to visit her and not have something to eat! If you came with a cooler, it would be packed with sandwiches and snacks for the long road trip ahead. Her meals at our family gatherings were abundant. The biggest “problem” would be having enough space on the plate to try all the options! Mom, we miss the plentitude!

Survivors include her daughter, Sherry Petersen; son, Steven (Karen) Schmitt; grandchildren, Jacob (Meredith) Petersen, Jeneva (Brock) Grinstead, Jacinta Petersen, Benjamin Kohler, Christian (Madison Tonarelli) Schmitt; great grandchildren, Brooks, Elise; her brother, Donald Hageman as well as other extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, William C. Schmitt; her companion, Bernard Demko, Sr. and her son-in-law, Joseph Petersen.

Friends will be received at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home on Tuesday May 27th from 2-4 and 6-8 A Funeral Service will take place at H.P. Brandt Funeral Home on Wednesday May 28th at 11 AM.