1923
Frances
2015
Frances Schneider
May 2, 1923 — December 21, 2015
Frances A. Schneider, age 92, completed her earthly journey on December 21st, 2015. She was lovingly comforted by her oldest granddaughter Angela and grandson Michael as she made her way into God’s hands. The family is sure that she received a very enthusiastic welcome from her husband Leo, son Stephen, her parents Barnabas and Josephine (Pechan) Stupfel, her sisters Sr Barnabas Stupfel and Sr Eulalia, Isabel Jensen and Josephine Meier as well as her brother Philip Stupfel who died in battle at the young age of 21 in Okinawa. She talked often of Philip and their closeness as children.
Those of us left behind to celebrate this special woman’s life are her older sister Theresa (Edward) Gierl, daughter Catherine (Stephen) Gardner, son Mark (Doris) Schneider, grandchildren Angela (Nathan) Gardner-Cotsford, Michael Schneider, Dorian (Melissa) Gardner, Jeffrey (Jennifer) Unitt, Jacqueline Unitt, Jamie Schneider and Justin (Angel) Schneider - along with 15 great grandchildren! She is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces
Daughter, Wife, Mom, Foster Mom, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Daycare provider, Social hostess, fantastic seamstress, bowler, bookkeeper, teacher’s aid, baseball and football fanatic (she LOVED her Colorado Rockies!), balloonist (okay, just once) – she lived a very full life. She was born on May 2, 1923 in Mazomanie Wisconsin. The little schoolhouse she attended still stands strong not so far from where she was born. She met her future husband, Leo Schneider at a dance and she had many a story to tell about their courtship. There was the time that she and her sisters traveled from Wisconsin to Oregon. Leo had told her she shouldn’t go but being an independent young lady, she went anyway. Well, what’s a guy to do when his lady love goes away for awhile – get drunk with the buddies of course. The letter he wrote apologizing to her and letting her know that’s what happens when she leaves him alone like that is a definite story to be handed down for ages.
Despite her independent nature, they were married on May 7, 1947 and were only separated by Leo’s death on July 28, 1981 – 34 years later. And, as her grandson Michael and nephew Gerard pointed out, she left us 34 years after that. During that time, they adopted three children (Steve, Cathy and Mark) and took in newborns waiting to be adopted. Leo’s health forced them to relocate to a drier climate and thus they moved to Colorado where they made their home and raised their children. Leo worked at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in the motor pool while Fran enjoyed working with the children as a teacher’s aid. She decided to quit that job and take care of her granddaughter Angela (and later Dorian) when decent daycare couldn’t be found for her. And that decision kept her occupied and happy for many years after Leo passed. The children she watched still affectionately refer to her as “Grandma”. She rarely had children for the short term but instead from the time they were very young (some newborns) until they were simply too old for childcare anymore. Her son Mark enjoyed going over most mornings to have coffee and a chat with her.
As she grew older, she began to need care and for awhile her son Steve and grandson Michael became her caretakers. She eventually moved in with her daughter Cathy where she lived for 6 years – until she went on a visit to Idaho in December 2013 to “help” her granddaughter Angela with her new baby Cora Ann. She made the decision to not move back to Colorado because she thought she would “stick around” to see if she could help Angie out with the children. She felt needed and was rarely bored watching the children and her favorite game shows. A routine was soon established and each night, Cora Ann decided she would tuck great grandma into bed and hand her the ice water she loved to have at her bedside. While she missed her family in Colorado and especially the new great grand babies, she was happy and where she wanted to be. She often had a hard time verbally expressing love to the adults but she showed it often. If you were lucky enough to know her, you couldn’t help but love her!
The family would like to thank her godson and nephew Dr. Ben Gierl and niece Dr. Ann Marie Gierl for their professional advice and support during her hospitalization. It is at times like this that things can get confusing and we thank you for “telling it to us straight”.
Services will be in the later part of June at St. Pius X Church in Aurora, Colorado. Please send an email to her daughter Cathy @ aerialdog1@yahoo.com if you would like updated information when the final arrangements are made. Interment will be at Fort Logan Cemetery with Leo.
Donations are a personal thing. She liked to donate to the Food Bank so if you have a local one, it is always a consideration. Contributions to the family are always welcome as well as she did leave some expenses behind (medical, loan, burial expenses, etc...) You can send a card to Steve or Cathy Gardner at 501 Verdos Drive, Elizabeth CO 80107 and let us know how you would like it used if you have a preference.
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