Caroline Cleveland Schmid Hernandorena

On July 8, 2026, Caroline Hernandorena—lover of cats, master of the New York Times crossword puzzle, world traveler, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother—passed away at the age of 77 in Washington, D.C., surrounded by her loving family.

A testament to her international roots, Caroline was born in Makassar, Indonesia, to her Swiss father, Arnold Schmid, and American mother, Harriet Towers. Her childhood was anything but ordinary. She chased chickens through the yard, adored a pet monkey, and experienced more than a few brushes with danger during an active insurgency in the country. She was soon joined by her sister, Barbara, and brother, Rudy.

In the late 1950s, Harriet and her children moved to New York City, where Caroline attended the prestigious Dalton School. After graduation, she spent a year studying at La Sorbonne in Paris. Summers were spent with her siblings and cousins at her grandmother's home in Brevard, North Carolina. After her mother, Harriet, remarried a merchant ship captain, Stjepo ("Stefi") Bjelovučić, Caroline had the unique opportunity to accompany her stepfather on several transatlantic voyages, further fueling her love of travel and adventure.

Caroline met her future husband, Andres, in 1970 while he was attending law school at New York University, and they married in September of that year. During their time together in New York, they formed lifelong friendships. Soon after their marriage, they embarked on a new chapter together, moving to Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a remarkable leap of faith for Caroline—moving thousands of miles from home to a country whose language she did not yet speak and into a family she had never met. It was also a perfect reflection of Caroline's adventurous spirit and openness to new experiences.

Caroline was warmly embraced by Andres' family and friends and quickly immersed herself in Argentine culture, becoming fluent in Spanish in short order. One of her favorite stories was meeting her father-in-law for the first time, when he greeted her with the only English phrase he knew: "I have no bananas today." Caroline taught English at a local school while Andres established his legal practice, and together they navigated life amid the political turmoil of Argentina in the early 1970s. They welcomed their first son, Diego, in August 1974 and soon thereafter moved to Washington, D.C.

In Washington, Caroline resumed her education and earned a degree in Anthropology from George Washington University while Andres worked as legal counsel for the World Bank Group. She also worked for a few years at CBS before leaving the workforce following the birth of their second son, Carlos, in 1979.

Adventure soon called again. In 1982, Caroline and her family moved to Montevideo, Uruguay. The move allowed them to spend more time with Andres' family, especially his parents, María del Carmen and Mario. As she had everywhere she lived, Caroline quickly became an active member of the local and expatriate communities, developing a wide circle of friends. She held leadership roles in the American school PTA and the American Women's Club and enjoyed outdoor activities and horseback riding at a family farm. In 1987, Caroline and Andres welcomed their third son, Francisco, and before long set out on yet another journey.

In 1989, the family moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Caroline embraced the city's vibrant energy and coastal lifestyle. She quickly learned to speak Portuguese and cherished afternoons spent with Andres and friends by the pool or at the beach, often enjoying a caipirinha. Already an exceptional cook, she delighted in mastering Brazilian dishes such as moqueca and feijoada and sharing them with family and friends.

The family returned to Washington, D.C., in 1992 after Diego graduated from high school. Andres resumed his work at the World Bank Group while Caroline did extensive work as a volunteer at the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. They spent the next 34 years in the Lake Barcroft community of Falls Church, Virginia, with the exception of two years in London, from 2005 to 2007, where Caroline once again built new friendships while strengthening old ones.

As her children grew older, Caroline continued exploring the world alongside Andres. Among her favorite places was their vacation home in Akumal, Mexico, where she loved snorkeling with tropical fish and sea turtles while enjoying fresh ceviche at local restaurants. She celebrated the marriages of their three sons and welcomed with joy three wonderful daughters-in-law and seven beloved grandchildren into the family. Caroline will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, and extraordinary gift for making everyone feel welcome. She greeted friends and strangers alike with open arms and never failed to end a visit with a kiss on both cheeks. She was the life of every family and social gathering and treated everyone with the kind of love and kindness that made each person feel special.

Her love of people was matched only by her love of animals—especially cats. Anyone who visited her home immediately knew this, thanks to the countless cat-themed decorations and books that brought her endless joy and never failed to make visitors and her husband smile. While she loved to socialize with family and friends, she was equally at home quietly reading one of her countless books or solving the daily newspaper crossword puzzle. Caroline was preceded in death by her mother, Harriet; her father, Arnold; her stepfather, Stefi; and her brother, Rudy. She is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Andres; her sister, Barbara; her sons, Diego, Carlos, and Francisco; her daughters-in-law, Ashley, Laura, and Becca; and her cherished grandchildren, Reid, Connor, Danny, Tommy, Lucy, Izzy, and Emmy.

Caroline's adventurous spirit, boundless kindness, warmth, and unwavering love for her family and friends touched the lives of everyone she met in many different countries. She will be deeply missed, lovingly remembered, and forever carried in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

A memorial service celebrating Caroline's life will be held on Saturday, August 8, at 11:00 a.m. at Joseph Gawler's Sons, 5130 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the ASPCA or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Caroline's honor.