Bernice Mattos Schneider

1923 - 2014

BERNICE MATTOS SCHNEIDER Jan. 12,1923 -Sept. 12, 2014 Bernice Mattos Schneider died peacefully at her Belvedere home on September 12, surrounded by her loving family and caregivers, concluding her 60 year struggle with MS. She was born in Stockton to Anthony and Eugenia Mattos on January 12,1923 and was raised in Mill Valley. She attended and graduated from the Summit School, Tamalpais High School and the College of Marin. After her marriage in 1943, she and her husband, Russ Schneider, moved to Belvedere where they raised a family and became very active in the Belvedere Volunteer Fire Department, The Belvedere Sailing Society, and the Corinthian Yacht Club. She was an accomplished musician (piano, clarinet) and a talented soprano. Among her many accomplishments were Choir Director at both Old St. Hilary's and new St. Hilary's parishes, featured soloist with the Winifred Baker Corral and the College of Marin Alumni Choir, playing the lead (Yum-Yum) in a community theater production of the Gilbert and Sullivan comic opera, The Mikado. She was also a talented artist, producing many works in watercolors. Her professional career included banking (Loan Officer, Crocker Bank, Mill Valley and Belvedere Boardwalk branches), Bookkeeper/accountant (San Francisco Yacht Club) and Chief Financial Officer of the family business. She retired from active service in the company in 1985 but maintained her position as Chairwoman of the Board until her passing. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Jean Maguire Mitchell, and Russ, her husband of 57 years. She leaves behind two daughters, Donna Cardoza Block (Bruce) of Tiburon and Chris Canada (Bill) of Tiburon and a son, Steve Schneider (Karen) of Novato, four grandchildren (Christian and Michael Cardoza, Sarah Schneider Bellach and Rusty Canada) and four great grandchildren (Elizabeth and Luke Cardoza, Jackson and Jamisen Bellach). Throughout her long struggle with MS and the resulting deterioration of her physical health, she never lost her sense of humor or zest for life. She was active through her final days and will be greatly missed by her loving family and friends. A Mass will be held at St. Hilary's on October 17, 2014 at 1 P.M. Burial will be private. A Celebration of her Life will be planned at a later date. ln lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the local chapter of the MS Society.