Emily Schmidt

Emily Schmidt (nee Steigerwaldt), 97, of Hawthorn Woods, was born Nov. 3,1915, and passed away on Dec. 19, 2012, in Lake Zurich. Emily was the beloved wife of the late Henry Schmidt; cherished mother to Corrine Cerami (Anthony) and Lance Schmidt (Erika); and dearest grandmother to Lance II (Anne) and Kurt Schmidt. A funeral service will take place in the Swan Lake Chapel at the family mausoleum at Ridgewood Memorial Park, 9900 N. Milwaukee Ave., Des Plaines, IL on Monday, Dec. 31. Open visitation will occur at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Emily spent her early childhood years growing up on a farm in Watertown, SD. Later on, her parents moved to Chicago and Emily became active in Eden Lutheran Church playing the church organ for both the English and German services. She was also a member of an all girls baseball team and was an active tennis player. As the oldest of her five siblings, Emily enjoyed helping her mother cook and care for the family. After Emily married, she moved to Elkhart, IN, and then to New York for her husband, Henry's business and later returned to Indiana, where she became the president of the local garden club. Tending to her plants and flowers was one of the many pleasures Emily enjoyed throughout her life. Her greatest joy was taking care of her family and watching them thrive. Her family and friends meant the world to Emily, and until her later years, she never missed sending them cards on their special occasions or visiting them when they were ill. In her work life, Emily worked as the secretary to the marketing manager for Miles Laboratories and also worked for Aetna Insurance in Park Ridge and Gulf Oil in Schaumburg. She retired in 1980, as a purchasing assistant for Universal Oil Products in Des Plaines. Emily was the dearest sister to Lydia Olson (Robert) (nee Steigerwaldt) and William Steigerwaldt (Donna). Emily was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Steigerwaldt and Sofia Steigerwaldt (nee Hoppe); and brothers, Henry Steigerwaldt (Annabelle), Frederick Steigerwaldt (Theresa) and Alexander Steigerwaldt (Anne). Emily was also the fond aunt to many nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, 675 E. Algonquin Road, Des Plaines, IL 60016-6297 or Eden Evangelical Lutheran Church, 5051 W. Gunnison St., Chicago, IL 60630.