Iris S. Sherman

Iris Smith Sherman, a lifelong resident of New Orleans and Metairie, passed away on December 6, 2020, after suffering complications from Covid-19, at the age of 79. Iris was born August 17, 1941 to the late Arthur Quay Smith and Grace McKay Smith. Her husband, Hughes “Tuck” Schneidau, Jr, daughter, Kristen Leigh Schneidau, and husband Walter Charles Sherman, Jr preceded her in death. She is survived by her daughter Laura Suzanne Schneidau and grandson, Hughes Walter Schneidau and her stepdaughter Catherine Sherman Woodruff (Michael), and grandchildren Nicholas and Kendall Woodruff of Houston, Texas.

Iris graduated Fortier High School class of 1959, where she played flute in the orchestra and band and participated in the Loyola Band. She attended LSUNO and was the 1961 Sweetheart of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at Tulane University where she met and married Tuck Schneidau. Before motherhood, Adler’s Jewelers employed her as the assistant to the Vice President, John Noonan.

Iris was a tireless volunteer in the lives of her two daughters and actively participated in all their activities at Metairie Park Country Day School, where she eventually worked as the secretary to the Lower School Principal in the mid 1980s. She also earned her realtors license and worked with Grady Harper, Realtors and well as a secretary to the Head of St. George’s Episcopal School.

She was a member of the Country Club Homes Garden Club where she sponsored the Junior Garden Club, teaching young ladies the beauty and delight of gardening. Iris greatly enjoyed hosting friends and family, sharing her culinary creations. She adored classical music and the opera as well as cooking and travel. Her most fervent love was spectator on the sidelines watching her grandson’s soccer team compete all across the state and the mid-south region. Iris was a former member of the Orleans Club, St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church, Memorial Baptist Church, and Metairie Baptist Church; at the time of her death she was a member of Munholland Memorial Methodist Church.

Her family wishes to acknowledge the wonderful care of all the dedicated medical providers and staff at Ochsner Medical Center who are working tirelessly in the battle against Covid-19, with special thanks to Dr. Suma Jain and Dr. Vikas Kothapalli and nurses Kara, Sarah and Katie who cared for her with selfless compassion.

The consummate caregiver, Iris did not wish the risk of exposure to anyone. During this holiday season and with the surge of cases her burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Arthritis Foundation in recognition of Juvenile Arthritis.