Obituary of Jean H. Schmidt

Jean Marie Hemenway Schmidt, age 80, died on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at Somerset Medical Center in Somerville. Born in Bristol, CT. she had resided in Bridgewater for 47 years. Mrs. Schmidt graduated with a degree in French from St. Joseph College in Hartford, CT. She came to NJ to teach at Central School in Warren where she met John Schmidt who commuted from Bayonne. Since Jean was the only one with a car she was given what she thought would be a doleful assignment of meeting him at the train station every morning. They married on June 25th, 1953 and lived in Raritan, Middlesex and finally Bridgewater, because Jean spotted the very house for which she had sent away plans from McCalls Magazine. This was at 1263 Mt. Vernon Road and they lived there for 47 years. Jean was a supplemental education teacher in the Bridgewater School System. She taught at Midland School, was a certified braillist, taught ESL and started several bridge clubs. Jean owned the Knitting Basket in Martinsville, was a member of the Bridgewater Womens Club, Literacy Volunteers of America and a regent of the local DAR. She was a passionate genealogist, bringing one of her lines back to 1160 and finding in others 8 ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War. She had a passion for learning a wonderful wit and great kindness. She is predeceased by her husband John Schmidt in 2005 and her sister Elizabeth Husarik. Jean is survived by two daughters Mary Ethel Schmidt and her husband Joseph Krenetsky and Jodie Schwiederek and her husband William; two grandchildren Emily and Grace Schwiederek. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 9:00 a.m. from Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd., Watchung followed by a 10:00 a.m. Mass of Resurrection at Blessed Sacrament Church, Martinsville. Visitation will be on Friday from 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Interment will be at Holy Cross Cemetery, Basking Ridge. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: The Smile Train, Suite 2201, 245 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10016 or St. Judes Childrens Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38018.