Lavetta Kay Schmied

LaVetta was such a wonderful woman. She was kind, gentle, non-judgmental, filled with joy, and she looked for good in everything and in everyone. She was born on July 9, 1941, to Vernon and Evelyn Spurgeon, in Ottumwa, Iowa. She became a big sister in 1943 when she was joined by Franrica (Fran) and again when her brother Stuart was born in 1954. LaVetta loved growing up in Iowa and she loved being around family. She married the love of her life, Richard (Dick) Schmied on April 25, 1964, and in 1965 became a mother to her first son, Scott. When Dick’s new job took the new family to the Chicago area, she bravely left Iowa but made sure to come back for frequent visits. In 1969, she had her second son, Todd, and though the two little ones took up most of her time she made sure to take her sons back to Iowa often so they could grow up along with her sister Fran’s boys. Family meant everything to her. Scott and Todd say she was the best mother anyone could hope to have and anyone who knew her knew that to be true.

LaVetta loved to sew (she could do it without a pattern), quilt, cook, bake, go to Flea Markets and Antique stores, and collect pie birds and eggbeaters. She loved music from the 50’s, she loved to wear jewelry and get her nails and toes done, and she even got herself a butterfly tattoo years before it was the “in” thing to do! Her favorite holiday was Christmas-and she took great delight in decorating the tree and putting up lights outside even on the coldest of days! LaVetta was a genuinely nice person-never judgemental, always friendly, and so warm and welcoming, and you never felt like a stranger when she was in the room. Our world could use a lot more LaVettas!

In 1992, she became a mother-in-law when Scott married Claudette. In 2000, she became a mother-in-law again when Todd married Dawn, and that was a bonus year because she also became a grandma for the first time when Scott and Claudette adopted Emily Mei from China. She loved being a grandma so much that her sons felt she deserved more, so Scott and Claudette adopted Danielle in 2001 and in 2004, Elizabeth was born to Todd and Dawn. Surrounded by all the cute girl clothes, LaVetta was in grandma heaven!

Retiring and tired of the wintry weather, she and Dick became Florida snowbirds in 2001 until making Florida their permanent home in 2009. While in Florida, they lived in 2 different senior communities and were very active in each and active in their church. They loved their life out there and though they missed their sons and grandchildren, it was where they loved to be. However, they made sure to come back at least 2 times a year for several weeks to see everyone in Illinois and Iowa and we all enjoyed those visits.

In 2020, Dick passed away after an illness, and LaVetta left her beloved Florida and returned to Illinois to live with Scott and Claudette. As her dementia progressed, she moved to an assisted living community and finally, when her care needs increased, she moved to St. Patrick’s Residence in Naperville. There she received high quality care from compassionate people and at the end, she received equally high-quality care from the compassionate team of Angel’s Grace Hospice. Though her physical passing is sad, it was the dementia that took her away from those who loved her which hurt the worst.

LaVetta is at peace now and we believe she is with Dick and all the family and friends who left before her. As per her wishes, at a future date a part of her will return to the Florida ocean she loved so much!

We love you Mom and Grandma and we miss you. You were simply the best!

Scott, Claudette, Todd, Dawn, Emily, Danielle, and Elizabeth.

Donations in memory of LaVetta Schmied can be made to St. Patrick’s Residence, 1400 Brookdale Rd, Naperville, IL 60563