Mrs. Reita Diane Schmidt, 82, beloved wife of Charles Louis “Charlie” Schmidt and resident of Wilmington, Del., formerly of Painter, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. Born July 29, 1942, in Jackson, Miss., and raised in Huntington, W.Va, she was one of 11 children born to the late Arnold John Kiessling and Mary Lucille Kiessling.
Reita was a dedicated registered nurse, rehabilitation specialist, and certified case manager who worked across Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania before retiring to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. Raised in a devout Catholic family, she maintained a strong connection to her faith throughout her life. She was a member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Onley, where she was active in the Ladies Auxiliary and taught RCIA classes. Reita loved quilting, reading, and playing games like bunco, pinochle, and bridge. She also enjoyed golfing and boating, but her favorite pastime and greatest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.
In addition to her husband of 61 years, Reita is survived by her children, Christopher Schmidt, of Bridgeville, Pa., Carolyn Love and her husband, David, of Yorkville, Ill., Annette Pic and her husband, Christopher, of Wilmington, and Daniel Schmidt, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; siblings, Nancy Kiessling Metty, of Texas, Terrance “Terry” Kiessling, of Ohio, and David Kiessling, of South Carolina; grandchildren, Sarah (Daniel), Joshua, and Jacob Love, Dan Schmidt, Andrew Pic (Kristin), Ryan Pic, Rebeca Sabad (Grant), David Pic, and Ellen, Sean, Lillyn, and Ashlyn Schmidt; great-grandson, Mason Pic; and several nieces and nephews, as well as their families.
Other than her parents, she was predeceased and joyously reunited with her infant daughter, Diane Marie Schmidt, and siblings, Arnold Kiessling, Max Kiessling, Mary Harlin, Patricia Sharpe, Francis “Bud” Kiessling, Joan Brandenburg, and Judy Harlin.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Onley on Saturday, Dec. 28, at 11 a.m., with Father Michael Imperial officiating. Interment will follow in the Fairview Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends for a visitation one hour prior to service at the church.
Contributions in Reita’s memory may be made to St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, P.O. Box 860, Onley, VA 23418 or the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601, www.alz.org
Memory tributes may be shared with the family at
www.williamsfuneralhomes.com
Arrangements are by the Williams-Onancock Funeral Home.
