Vanessa M. Schmaltz

Vanessa M. Schmaltz, age 74, of Middlefield, passed away suddenly on October 14, 2025. For the past 55 years, she was the loving wife of Charles Schmaltz. Vanessa was born in Meriden, CT, daughter of the late Vincent and Virginia Myer Manzara. Vanessa was the heart of her family and had the hearts of her family. She was warm, loving, kind, quick witted, fiesty and intelligent. She enjoyed her flower gardens, painting beautiful watecolors, reading, cooking, and singing. She cherished family gatherings, and had a very close relationship with all her family. She enjoyed spending quality time with her close and lifelong friends. She loved taking long, rambling drives with her husband, and exploring new places to sightsee and trying a new place for a bite to eat. Her time was too short. Her loss will forever be a hole left in the hearts of her family and friends, she will be missed intensely and remembered constantly. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her adoring children Kimberly Schmaltz – Eldred and her husband Richard Eldred and Charles "Chuck" Schmaltz and his wife Amy, her cherished grandchildren Ashleigh, Charlie, and Genevieve Schmaltz, her loving brother Bruce Manzara and his wife Nancy, and many nieces and nephews. Vanessa was also predeceased by her siblings, Lynn Manzara, Sherril Markham and John Manzara. Vanessa's family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday October 21st from 4:00 – 7:00pm at the Wallingford Funeral Home 809 N. Main St. Ext. Wallingford. A Funeral Service will commence at the funeral home at 7pm. Interment will be private. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vanessa, please visit our floral store.