Nadja Schmidt

Obituary of Nadja Schmidt

Nadja Schmidt (Dukmasow), of Denver, North Carolina, and formerly of Freehold and Paterson, New Jersey, passed away on December 8, 2025 at home. Born on January 29, 1947, in Klagenfurt, Austria, Nadja came to the United States as a young child in 1951. She grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, where she began the life she would proudly build "from the ground up" as a first-generation immigrant.

In 1981, Nadja married Frederick Schmidt III, and together they shared more than four decades of marriage until his passing in 2021. In 1985 they settled in Freehold, New Jersey, where they raised their family and formed many lasting friendships. In 2021, Nadja moved to Denver, North Carolina, to be closer to family.

Nadja worked in a variety of roles over the years, including at Allied Building Products in Wall, New Jersey, and at Brunch and Munch in the Monmouth County Courthouse in Freehold, New Jersey. While she brought dedication and integrity to every job, work never truly defined her. She was most herself in the home she kept, the meals she shared, the care she gave, and the love she poured into her family and community.

A woman of deep faith, Nadja was an active and devoted member of Nativity of the Holy Virgin Church (St. Mary's) Russian Orthodox Church in Jackson, New Jersey. Together with her husband, she offered countless hours of service to the church, reflecting her humanitarian and altruistic spirit.

Nadja will be remembered as kind, caring, loving, patient, vibrant, and deeply generous of heart. She loved and was loved by her family, immensely. She was selfless and giving, always ready to offer help, a listening ear, or a warm meal. Creative by nature, she was a self-taught painter and took great joy in her artwork. She loved the beauty of nature and filled her home's yard with gardens of flowers.

Animals held a special place in Nadja's heart. Her home was always filled with pets - found, rescued, or lovingly raised. Each one was cared for tenderly, and her compassion for animals was another reflection of her gentle spirit.

Nadja was predeceased by her parents Feodosia "Sophie" and Feodor Dukmasow, her brother Victor Dukmasow, her husband Frederick H Schmidt III, and children Michele Nunno and Fred H Schmidt IV.

She is survived by her children Walter Schmidt and his wife Diane Darcy-Schmidt of Denver, North Carolina; Roxanne Larusso and her husband Mike of Jackson, New Jersey, and grandchildren Christopher and Amanda Larusso, and Jessica Longstreet; great-grandchildren Logan Longstreet and Liliana Gordet; her niece Natalie Martinez of Pennsylvania; and great nieces and nephew, Angelina, Victor, and Anastasia Martinez, all whom Nadja cherished along with many extended family members and friends.

Visitation will be held at the Clayton & McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton Adelphia Road (Route 524), Freehold Township on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her 11:00 AM funeral service on Wednesday, December 17, 2025 at the Russian Orthodox Church. Interment will follow in St. Vladimir's Cemetery, 316 Cassville Road, Jackson. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family, please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com