Sabrina and family
Sending our love during this difficult time. 
I’m so happy I’ve got to know Vita who my husband keep telling wonderful stories from his late teenager time in California with her. 
It was 2013 and we went out for a meal to celebrate Vita’s birthday. Forever treasured in my heart. 
Daniela

Grandkids visiting Bubbie summer of 2018 🥰

What a strong beautiful lady Vita was. I remember so many years ago the close bond between Sabrina & her Mom. My heart breaks for you Brinni!
Know that your Mom is free from pain and happy at rest. Love to you all ~* Jane 

That was a beautiful video. I’m so sorry for your loss. Praying for your comfort and peace during these tough times.  
Love, Dori

We will miss Vita very much at Royal Gardens. She continued to make every day more enjoyable for me as the executive director. I will keep her spirit in my heart forever.
 My heartfelt condolences to the entire family.


Dear Sabrina,

            Sharon and I are deeply saddened by the passing of our dear friend Vita.
            We pray it was peaceful, and we know that God is waiting to receive her.
            We Catholics are big on Saints…and to me, Vita was a Saint indeed.
            I will never forget her and our first meeting.
            It was an Ash Wednesday for we Catholics, and I went to a Real Estate meeting with the ashes on my forehead. Vita was so “impressed” and never let me forget            her special observation.
            As I think you know, I consider Vita a mentor to me in my early RE years.
            I recall how patient yet persistent she was in all her work.
            She was learned and engaging about everything RE.
            It was a bonus to grow so close as friends.
            She always spoke so highly of you Sabrina and your husband.
            And, of course, she loved Bonnie and so do we.
            Sharon and I enjoy attending daily noon Mass in Little Italy, San Diego every day.
            AND today we will offer all our prayers for the repose of the soul of Vita…a saintly woman indeed!

Blessings, Mike and Sharon



One God
By Vita Schneider
Page 1 of 2

Why are there so many religions when there is only one God?  This questions had always perplexed me, and now it arose as I stood before the gates which led into heaven.
	“Please, let me enter.”  The guard shook his head and said, “No! you cannot enter.  There is no place for you here until you are tolerant of all religions.”
	“How can I be?  We all know there is but one God, why then not one religion?”
	“There is a reason,” he said, “and when you realize it, you will become a far better person.”
	I slowly returned to earth with the determination to see the growth of tolerance in the last 50 years.
	Some radiant-faced little boys wearing small caps ran out of a brown stone building.  As I lifted my gaze to its top of the building I saw a star and knew that was a Jewish synagogue.  As I seated myself in the last row, I became aware of the fact that the Jewish people wear their hats while worshiping God.  I listened to the rabbi as he told of the ten commandments which were given to us by Moses.  “Thou shalt love the Lord my God with all thy heart.”  “Thou shalt love they neighbor as they self.”  I had heard them before, but I couldn’t remember where.  The Saturday services ended, and I left.  Time elapsed and I soon found myself standing before a tall stately church.
	The bell was pealing, calling the people and me to the house of God.  Upon entering the church, I was awed by the beauty of its interior.  I made sure my head was covered, as is the custom of all women who enter the Catholic church, and I sat down.  I heard the priest say, “Jesus believed that God’s will with the help of man and the ten commandments will triumph on earth.  When he asked what commandments are first he answered, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart,” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  The same meaningful words were said here before people who had a different way of worshiping God.  

The Power of Prayer
By Vita Schneider
Page 2 of 2

The man got out and asked Mom if we needed help. For once, I kept my mouth shut.  My Mother introduced herself and all of us. He said, “My name is Henry or you can call me Hank, I answer to both.  My thought was he's no Angel.  No wings or halo, just over-halls. He put on some black gloves and told everyone to stand back. He unscrewed the cap and stepped away.  He walked to his old truck and brought out a big container of water. Then slowly put small amounts of water in the radiator. Mom, Gertrude as well as Arthur continued to pour the water in the radiator while he went to his truck. I do not know how he had known Mom needed gas, she only had 3 gallons. He told her he was adding 5 more gallons.  Then he told Mom to wait a half hour so it would be safe to proceed down the mountain to Banning.  There she would find a Gas Station to fill up in the morning.

The Wagon Wheel Restaurant had bungalow's. They happen to have a large one available. Mom said "Arthur did you give Henry the $20.00 dollars?” Arthur replied, "He told me he had no use for 
money.” Mom said, “then give it back to me.” “Go into the restaurant, I’m going to call your father collect now as we are late.”  When she came back she had instructions from dad to call his brother Albert. Mom called Albert and just asked where they were to meet.
 
Albert would have his car and the children could ride with him. Arthur and I went with him from there. Then we would be split up into the Schneider family's.  I & Claire went to stay with Aunt Jessie. Arthur & Gertrude stayed with Danny and Miriam.  Mom went to stay with dad's oldest sister, Aunt Esther.  She slept for two days and Aunt Esther made her meals.  Aunt Esther’s husband, Harry, told them he was going to entertain the children.

I rode on the front of the motorcycle with Uncle Harry and saw the neighborhood. Then Uncle Harry got his car and took us out for ice cream. We had our choice of banana split, sundae or any flavor of soda milk shakes. I picked the sundae.  I thought to myself, “what a wonderful family God Bless them all.



One God
By Vita Schneider
Page 2 of 2

Mass ended and I suddenly realized it was Sunday.  I began to ponder over the fact that the Jewish people observe Saturday, yet they also worship God one day a week.
	Once more several years passed.  This time, I stood before a small white meeting house.  I could hear the strains of music from the organ.  The music was so beautiful that I entered the church. I was stunned by the simplicity of its interior.  The congregation of Protestants was finishing the “Lord’s Prayer.”  The confirmation of twelve years old boys and girls was being held.  Haven’t I seen the Catholics and Jews hold the same ceremonies, only with the child being called a son of the commandments?  I remember from my history lesson that these people were the first to come to America for freedom of religion.  Despite the variety of denominations, they have continued to be tolerant.
	I am still walking.  Now I have reached the year 1952.  What do I see?  I see people who have come from a world war and now have burned back to their religion for guidance to prevent another, only now they have banded together.  As I walk into the future, I see the same beautiful services continuing, but once a month now I may see an inter-faith service.
	Here has been the growth of tolerance.  It has crept upon us with such quiet dignity that no one knows where it was started or when it will end.  It has grown with all our new inventions and discoveries.  It has survived many wars.  As a result, today we have the stately beauty of Judaism, the rich ritual and devout adoration of the Catholic high mass, the meaningful silence of a Friends’ meeting and the joyous signing of other Protestant congregations.  These are the differences.  However, we all us the Bible, not aside one day in the week for worship, and honor the commandments given by Moses.  “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy hear,” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”
	Someone’s calling me?  Who’s calling me?
	“It is I,” the guard replied.  “The gates of Heaven are open for you know.  What have you seen?  What have you learned?”
	What have I seen!  What have I Learned!  I know now that in my Father’s House are many mansions.  The great mystery of man’s soul is clear to me.  He wanders through the many chambers.  He finally discovers the dwelling place of God within himself, and then he feels at home.





The Power of Prayer
By Vita Schneider
Page 1 of 2

In 1949 my father purchased a new Plymouth car for my mother to drive us to California where we would live. He told all of use to behave as Mother would call him collect every evening to report in. He also attached a luggage rack on top for our luggage. My Mom drove 800 miles a day. We had Breakfast before we left.  We had corn-flakes cereal with bananas and a half of a peanut butter & jelly sandwich with a glass of milk. We all had the  coffee. 

Along the way we would have a picnic lunch with hot dogs or a tuna sandwich with lemonade. If we passed an ice cream store, we stopped to have an ice cream cone in any flavor we wanted. Arthur was 11 years old at the time and he wore knickers and played the harmonica. The car had no radio. So we sang songs like "California Here We Come" and "Coming Around the Mountain When We come." Gertrude had a beautiful singing voice and sang songs like “Deep Purple” and “America the Beautiful” while Arthur played his harmonica. I was 6 and Claire was 4 years old. Staying on Route 66 we knew we would be in California in a couple of days.

The mountain was steep and Mom noticed that steam was coming out of the engine. "Thank God" there was a turn-out so she pulled in and told us to get out of the car.  We asked, "Mom is the car going to blow up?”  She said “No, it will not, however we must now call for help.”  Me, "Vita" said, "Mom there are no telephone booths and it would be days before daddy could come to help."  Mom said, “No we need to pray to GOD for help.  Every one of us request that GOD send us an angel to help us.  Mom said, “Pray with your heart and say, ‘GOD’ if you can send an angel as soon as you can, we would appreciate it.” Claire was crying and Gertrude was holding her and said " Claire, daddy will send help and the car will not blow up.” It was a half an hour when an old truck finally pulled up behind us.  

OBITUARY

Vita Arlene Schneider

October 28, 1932 – July 26, 2020

Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks-Griffin Memorial Park, Mortuary & Crematory

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