Jennie Ogden Schneider

Born in New Orleans on July 18, 1933 to Jennie Silverman Ogden and Charlton Beattie Ogden, Jennie spent her formative years at the Jewish Children’s Home with her twin sister, Sara, while their mother served the country in World War II as an Army nurse. Her aunt, Sara Merlin, was a tremendous inspiration to her, and along with her mom, were the only two Silverman family members to escape the Holocaust.

Jennie is survived by her beloved husband of 67 years, Saul Schneider, Pharm.D., former vice president of Katz & Besthoff; daughter, Patricia Schneider; son, Dr. David Schneider and daughter-in-law, Helen Chalstrom Schneider; grand-daughters Hannah Schneider Thornton (Dave); Cora Jennie Schneider; and, sister, Sara Ogden Sweet (Donald). She held great fondness for her niece, nephews and their families; her cousins Rachel Bergman and Rafael Strudley (Ruth), as well as the entire Chalstrom clan.

An excellent student and gifted writer, Jennie graduated from Isidore Newman High School where she was awarded the top academic prize in English. She later earned a bachelor’s degree in education with honors from University of New Orleans.

Jennie was a devoted wife and mother who loved her family, her Jewish roots and the City of New Orleans. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining New Orleans-style and was known for her gracious hospitality and beautifully set tables that always had room for one more.

Jennie was a much beloved teacher as well as a private and volunteer tutor in New Orleans public schools. Most of her professional life was also spent helping the Jewish community; she worked with Rabbi Leo Bergman and Rabbi David Goldstein, where she served as principal of Touro Synagogue’s Religious School for over 15 years. Giving back, helping someone in need and supporting philanthropic and charitable causes was an important part of her identity.

Jennie loved sharing the history, culture and uniqueness of New Orleans with visitors, and her volunteer work with the New Orleans museum Cabildo made her an unofficial ambassador to the Big Easy.

Jennie supported husband Saul’s great love of Barbershop Quartet singing and they traveled the world for performance and international judging competitions, tirelessly promoting and helping to preserve barbershop music as an art form. She contributed to many of his musical programs by researching facts about the composer, music and lyrics that gave context and history. She also loved classical music, theater, libraries, museums, word games, puzzles, art, home and costume design. She could work a New York Times crossword puzzle in ink and in record time. Some of her greatest joys included playing bridge, watching sports (especially the Saints) and traveling to California see her sister, Sara Sweet and family, spending time at Lake Tahoe, hiking and in nature.

A private burial will be held, and in lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Jewish Children’s Regional Services, Isidore Newman School, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Touro Synagogue or a charity of your choice. She will be interred at Hebrew Rest Cemetery.