Anne Paul Schmidt

Anne Paul Schmidt New London - Anne was a kind, loving and generous woman. She loved her family above all else and enjoyed sharing her many gifts as a professional, as a friend, and as a volunteer in the community. She was a believing Catholic and was eternally grateful for the support she received from the church; especially from St. Joseph's Church in New London during her final illness. The spiritual advisor from Hospice of Southeastern CT was also a great comfort. Anne was very grateful for the comfort and support of her husband Dr. William Schmidt and for the many happy years that they spent together. Anne treasured the trips that they made to South America, Europe, and the Caribbean. She shared Bill's love of sailing and loved to reminisce about sailing trips they made in New England and crossing the North Sea. The four children that Anne shared with her husband in a blended family were a constant source of pleasure to her; Charles W. Schmidt of Portland, Maine, Jennifer Martley of Mystic, Stephanie Glenn of New London, and Kenneth C. Smith and Anne's daughter-in-law Siobhan of Northfield, Vermont. The very dearest people in the world to her with whom she spent countless, joy filled hours were her grandchildren, to whom she was known as Ninni to many: Jack Glenn, Katherine Glenn, Guthrie Belfiglio, Perry Belfiglio, and Eden Smith. Anne's family also included her father, The Reverend William Paul, her brother Dr. John H. Paul and her sister-in-law Reverend Frieda Malcolm, her uncle Dr. Ralph Slepecky, her Aunts, Nieces, Nephews, and Cousins also survive her. Anne would like to especially recognize her cousin, Captain Robert Hinks from Camp LeJeune, North Carolina, and Jack Hinks for their very special notes and visits. Her niece Emily Paul was especially dear to her. She spent the summer after her junior year at Smith College with Anne and offered loving and supportive care to Anne and her family during her final illness. Anne was predeceased by her loving and very talented mother, Olga Slepecky Paul and by her brother the Reverend Stephen H. Paul. Anne worked diligently in her career, most notably as Director of Major Gifts in Connecticut for the American Cancer Society. She directed programs that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund young cancer researchers at Yale and the University of Connecticut. She also thoroughly enjoyed her position as Executive Director of the New London unit of the American Cancer Society. In her final years she began a new career in sales for Willliam Raveis Real Estate. In that position she excelled in customer service and successful sales of exceptional properties. Anne was a graduate of Colby College, Waterville, Maine with a BA in English Literature. She also held both an MA and MS from Syracuse University achieving degrees in English Literature and Education Anne was blessed with many friends who supported her during her illness, especially the members of the Thames River Book Club. These women were a comfort and a joy to Anne and her family. Serving others as a volunteer was very important to Anne including chairing the Garden Therapy Committee of the Thames River Garden Club and working on sales and marketing for New London Main Street. Her greatest volunteer passion was the New London Rotary Club. During the past year she chaired a regional Rotary Committee that successfully secured a $22, 000 grant to help widows and single mothers in Zambia learn skills to support their children. Anne served on the 2010-2011 Board of Directors for the New London Rotary Club. Anne was also a member of the Thames Yacht Club and the Thames Club. She and Bill were both members of the Southeastern CT Council on Foreign Relations. They also both enjoyed being a host family to cadets at the Coast Guard Academy. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 AM Saturday in St. Joseph Church, with interment following in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Calling hours are from 5 to 8 PM Friday at the Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral home, 12 Ocean Ave., New London. In lieu of flowers Anne and her family request donations be made to Hospice of S.E.C.T. (http://hospicesect.org); or to the Chikumbuso Widows and Orphans Project; chikumbusoproject@yahoo.com (website www.chikumbuso.com.)