Dorothy Elizabeth Schneider

Dorothy Elizabeth Schneider (nee Jung) passed away from heart failure. She is survived by her son Patrick, his wife Cynthia, her grandson James Lewis, and her son-in-law Harold Barnett, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband William (Bill), and her daughter Susan Barnett. She is also predeceased by her parents Arthur Jung and Edna Jung Kunz, her stepfather Benny Kunz, her brothers Arthur (Sonny) and Kenneth Jung, and her sister Jannibel Jung Kuebel.

Dorothy was born in Cain City, Texas, the oldest of 4 children. She grew up in this small community during the Depression, helping her family as expected. This included chores such as harvesting and canning vegetables, working at relatives’ farms cooking, and feeding the farmworkers in the fields.

She attended a one-room schoolhouse in Cain City until high school. German was spoken in the community but the teacher was not bilingual, so the students taught the teacher German. She then attended Fredericksburg High School and graduated in 1942.

Shortly thereafter she moved to San Antonio where she worked as a maid at the Menger Hotel. Next, she started a job in the mail room at Randolph Air Base. She decided to attend beauty school at night and eventually became a licensed beautician/hairdresser. She never lost her love of hairdressing and until the end of her life commented on peoples’ hair on television or in person. Dorothy learned to drive a car while in San Antonio but did not get her driver’s license until her husband made her get one years later.

During World War II Dorothy and Bill corresponded. When Bill returned to Texas, he attended St. Mary’s Law School in San Antonio. While there their relationship grew. Bill and Dorothy moved back to Fredericksburg and married. She had her son in 1950 and her daughter in 1951. She continued to work as a hairdresser in Fredericksburg, an unusual choice for married women at that time. She and Bill, with family and friends, regularly went dancing at the German dance halls in and around Fredericksburg. Her sister Jannibel played in many of the bands.

In 1955, Dorothy and Bill moved the family to Austin. They lived in northeast Austin until 1977 when they moved to their dream house in southwest Austin. Dorothy worked in many beauty salons in Austin including downtown at the Driscoll Hotel, on Guadalupe, and in the Enfield area. She retired in the 1980s. Bill and Dorothy were married for fifty years. Dorothy and Bill were members of Messiah Lutheran Church, and at the time of her passing, Dorothy was a long-time member of Living Word Lutheran Church in Buda.

Dorothy enjoyed gardening, cooking, reading, and looking after her family, especially her grandson James. As a child of the Depression, she was extremely frugal. The family went camping, fishing, and deer hunting. Dorothy got her first deer in 1977. An annual group event was making deer sausage from the family’s recipe.

Dorothy followed sports, especially baseball. She knew the teams, the players, and the game results. She watched little league, women’s softball, and major league games with the same enthusiasm. The love of this sport came from her childhood when her father took the family to watch him play baseball in the local league. It was a regular outing. On the way home, her father would buy 5 watermelons for a nickel from vendors on the roadside.

Dorothy never cursed or argued. However, eventually, she would make it known if she disagreed with you or was perturbed. During the last five years of her life, she was housebound and eventually bedbound. She never complained about her pain or her physical limitations. She handled having others clean and bathe her with wonderful dignity and always, always thanked them each time.

Kiera Hunicke-Smith took on a large portion of the daily care that Dorothy needed in the last six months. Kiera was cheerful and loving around Dorothy, and I know Dorothy loved having her support. Richard Smith aided in cooking special meals for Dorothy and checking on her as needed. She loved his homemade cooking, except when it was too spicy.

Dorothy was cared for by Hospice Austin and the family would especially like to thank all the staff, nurses, and aids that provided the care she needed, especially John, Alma, and April. They are all nothing short of amazing, caring, and compassionate caregivers.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice Austin at https://www.hospiceaustin.org/get-involved/donate/ or mailed to:

Hospice Austin

4107 Spicewood Springs Road

Austin, TX 78759