Mary Cronin Schmid

Mary Elizabeth Cronin Schmid, age 84, of Bridle Creek, Virginia, passed away peacefully on September 6, 2024, surrounded by her children. She was born on August 27, 1940, in Mount Vernon, New York, to George Joseph Cronin and Beatrice May Glenn Cronin. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and seven of her siblings. She was the third of eleven children and the eldest daughter. As an independent young woman, Mary moved to New York in her early twenties to work for Encyclopedia Britannica. It was there where she met the love of her life, Michael Robert Schmid. The two were married on February 20, 1965 in Mt Vernon NY. They made their home and raised their family in Princeton and Cranbury, NJ, Wheeling WV, Reston, VA, Little Rock, AR, West Hartford CT, and Williamsport, PA before deciding to retire in Independence, VA in 1998. Mary was a homemaker most of her life, working outside the home for the National Association of Secondary School Principals only after her children were older. She cherished her role as Mema to her four grandchildren and many others that she claimed as family. In her youth she was a volunteer for The March of Dimes and Young Democrats. After becoming a mother, she served as a volunteer in many capacities, including as a Brownie troop leader and booster club member. She was always active in her church and local community. Mary is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Schmid and her son, Zachary Schmid (Kristin Anderson), daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Gary Mitchell and their children Lucas Mitchell (Angela Gutierrez) and Mary Emelin Mitchell, and by her son, Robert "Schmoo" Schmid and his son, Cassidy Schmid. She is also survived by three brothers, Jeffery Cronin (Randi Bakken), James "Cricket" Cronin (Pam Cronin), and Thomas Cronin (Aline Cronin) and over forty nieces and nephews. She is also survived by special loved ones Brantley and Whitney Ivey and their children Autrey Ivey and Gus Ivey. A service will be held in her honor at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 28th, 2024 at Bridle Creek United Methodist Church with Pastor Danny Nettleton officiating and a meal to follow. The family will be available there 1 hour prior to the service to receive guests. A private interment will occur at a later time. Memorials or donations may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, Bridle Creek Cemetery, or the Independence branch of the Wythe-Grayson Regional Library.