Susan Jane Schmidt

1928 - 2011

Susan Jane Schmidt, age 82, died peacefully, surrounded, by her loving family on April 8, 2011, at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township. She had recently relocated to Washington Township after living in Lenox Township for nearly 35 years. Mrs. Schmidt was born Susan Jane Martz on July 9, 1928, in Detroit, the daughter of Arthur Francis and Lillian Blondina (Werling) Martz. She attended the University of Detroit and earned a Bachelor of Philosophy degree, therewith a view toward a career in social work. However, the sudden death of her older sister, Mary Ann Schmidt, from polio, in 1954, changed those aspirations. She became a caretaker for her sister's three young children and, in 1955, she married their father, Charles R. Schmidt, DDS. The couple subsequently added four more children to their home on Calvin Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms. After raising their family, Mrs. Schmidt became office manager and receptionist in her husband's dental practice on Mack Avenue in Grosse Pointe Farms. They retired in the early 1990's. In addition to her sister, she was predeceased by her husband in 2003, and a daughter, Susan Hubert in 1984. She is survived by five sons and a daughter, Charles (Diane), William (Gina Schwalm), Mary Baker (Paul Swanson), James, Paul (Darcy), and Robert (Michele), plus son-in-law John (Lisa) Hubert and a "spare" son, Michael (Corinne) Scheuer. She was a cherished and admired grandmother to 13 and great-grandmother of two. Mrs. Schmidt is also survived by a brother, Arthur F. Martz of Princeton Junction, N.J. "Aunt Sue" will be greatly missed by Mr. Martz's three sons, Fred, John, and Don. Some may say that the role of wife and mother was "thrust upon her". But one had only to see the sheer delight at family parties, picnics, birthdays, graduation parties (and even poker nights), to understand that her work to make, preserve and nurture a family was the challenge she met with the greatest pride and joy. One granddaughter found herself "celebrating the most brilliant, giving, non-conventional woman I know. No one else could have shaped us like she has." Another said "she has been such a strong woman with a sharp mind and high morals who has built one amazing family. Thanks for all you have done grandma; we love you always." Visitation Sunday from 1-9 p.m. at the S. K. Schultz Funeral Home, 43300 Garfield, Clinton Township. Prayer service Sunday, 7 p.m. Instate Monday, 10:30 a.m. until time of funeral Mass, 11 a.m., at St. Paul of Tarsus Catholic Church, 41300 Romeo Plank, Clinton Township, Mich. Mrs. Schmidt and her family have requested that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Forgotten Harvest or Heifer International in her memory. Please share a thought or memory with the family at www.schultzfuneralhome.com