Mary Joseph Schmidt

Our beloved mother, Mary Ann Joseph Schmidt, 95, passed away peacefully in Houston on August 18, 2015. Mary was born September 11, 1919 in Austin, Texas to Joe A. Joseph and Sophia Daywood Joseph, one of nine children.

Mary was a life-long resident of Austin. She graduated from Austin High School. She was a member of Our Lady’s Maronite Church since its beginning and was a member of the Austin American Lebanese Association. She volunteered weekly at a nearby nursing home and her church until she moved to Houston. Mary was very social, loved to dance, and play card games and dominoes. Her last three months, she lived in a retirement community in Houston where she made many friends among the residents and staff who knew her as “Miss Mary”. She played cards with her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren until the very end.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Werner G, Schmidt. She is survived by her daughter Sharon Samson and her husband Marty of Houston; son Werner Schmidt Jr. and his wife Kathy of Aledo; grandchildren: Alicia Samson and her fiancé Joseph Romo, Mark Samson, Shelley Schmidt and her fiancé Robert Scott of Austin, and Steven Schmidt; her great-grandchildren Landon Samson, Josh, Miranda and Mia Romo, her brother Joe A. Joseph, Jr. and numerous nieces and nephews. The family greatly appreciates the care given to their mother by Texas Home Health Hospice, Home Health Resources and the staff and residents of Village on the Park in Houston.

Visitation will be Friday at 6 pm at Our Lady’s Maronite Catholic Church, 1320 East 51st Street, followed by a rosary service at 7PM. The funeral mass is a 10AM on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Our Lady’s Maronite Catholic Church, 1320 East 51st Street, Austin, Texas 78723.

To share condolence with the family, please visit www.cookwaldenfuneralhome.com.