Obituary for Dolores Estelle Schmidt
TORRINGTON – Dolores “Lorrie” Schmidt, 95, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully on Sept. 26, 2021, at her residence with family by her side. She was the wife of the late
Clifford L. Schmidt. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 26, 1926, daughter of Russell and Estelle Woodhead Diaz. She spent her childhood and teen years in the Allentown, Pennsylvania area. Lorrie graduated from Allentown High in 1944, met Marine corporal Clifford Schmidt while he was attending OCS at Muhlenberg College, and they married on October 26, 1944. After living in Georgia, Iowa and California and obtaining degrees in education Lorrie and Cliff settled in Milford, Connecticut. Together they taught in the West Haven Public education system for the duration of their careers. Lorrie earned an advanced degree, served as grade school teacher, special reading teacher and guidance counselor earning the praise of her coworkers, students and parents as a caring, thoughtful teacher. After retirement they moved to Northfield, Connecticut, volunteered in the community, and traveled the globe. Lorrie was active with the Northfield Literary Club, volunteered at Vogel-Wetmore School and at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. She had a strong interest in Mark Twain — collecting and reading his works and teaching several Elderhostel classes on the man. Not one to be idle, Lorrie also traveled to Slovakia where she taught English for four months. Lorrie was a skilled artist, seamstress, cook and baker. She had a talent to produce great results at whatever she tried and the results of those talents were enjoyed by many. Lorrie is survived by her daughter Ruth and husband Donald LaFrance, son Arthur Schmidt and wife Eileen, grandchildren: Jodi, Ethan, Morgan, Emily, Travis, Elizabeth, Meredith; great-grandchildren: Isabelle, Esmé, Afton and Julian. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and leaves five close friends, Dolores McGuiness, Barbara Saska, Lillian Olmsted, Nancy Amrich and Carol Padovano.
Please perform an act of kindness and generosity in Lorrie’s memory.
Services will be private.
Clifford L. Schmidt. She was born in Boston, Massachusetts on February 26, 1926, daughter of Russell and Estelle Woodhead Diaz. She spent her childhood and teen years in the Allentown, Pennsylvania area. Lorrie graduated from Allentown High in 1944, met Marine corporal Clifford Schmidt while he was attending OCS at Muhlenberg College, and they married on October 26, 1944. After living in Georgia, Iowa and California and obtaining degrees in education Lorrie and Cliff settled in Milford, Connecticut. Together they taught in the West Haven Public education system for the duration of their careers. Lorrie earned an advanced degree, served as grade school teacher, special reading teacher and guidance counselor earning the praise of her coworkers, students and parents as a caring, thoughtful teacher. After retirement they moved to Northfield, Connecticut, volunteered in the community, and traveled the globe. Lorrie was active with the Northfield Literary Club, volunteered at Vogel-Wetmore School and at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital in Torrington. She had a strong interest in Mark Twain — collecting and reading his works and teaching several Elderhostel classes on the man. Not one to be idle, Lorrie also traveled to Slovakia where she taught English for four months. Lorrie was a skilled artist, seamstress, cook and baker. She had a talent to produce great results at whatever she tried and the results of those talents were enjoyed by many. Lorrie is survived by her daughter Ruth and husband Donald LaFrance, son Arthur Schmidt and wife Eileen, grandchildren: Jodi, Ethan, Morgan, Emily, Travis, Elizabeth, Meredith; great-grandchildren: Isabelle, Esmé, Afton and Julian. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and leaves five close friends, Dolores McGuiness, Barbara Saska, Lillian Olmsted, Nancy Amrich and Carol Padovano.
Please perform an act of kindness and generosity in Lorrie’s memory.
Services will be private.