| Date of Birth | May 27, 1915 |
| Passed Away | May 4, 2011 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | May 7, 2011 |
| Service Time | 11:00 AM |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery |
KATHARINE RYAN “KAY” SCHMITT
HORNELL-Katharine Ryan “Kay” Schmitt, 95, formerly of 40 Scott St., died early Wednesday morning (May 4, 2011) at McAuley Manor in North Hornell where she has resided for the past five years.
Born in Scranton, N.D. on May 27, 1915 she was a daughter of the late William and Elizabeth Cunningham Ryan. Katharine moved to New York State in 1950 and married Edmund M. Schmitt on Sept. 16, 1950 who predeceased her in 1984, after 34 years of marriage. Besides her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her infant daughter, Kyle Maureen in 1959; her son Mickey in 1983 and her two brothers and six sisters.
She was the youngest of nine children and grew up on a large cattle and horse farm in North Dakota, where she learned to ride horses at an early age.
Katharine graduated from Catholic High School in Chicago, Ill. and then attended St. Ann’s College also in Chicago and earned her Nursing degree. She was employed as a registered nurse in Rochester, Minn. at the Mayo Clinic and then in later years she was employed at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell from 1969 to 1982.
A resident of Hornell for most of her life, she loved her home and neighbors on Scott Street. Katharine was a communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church in Hornell where she served as a Eucharistic Minister; in later years she became a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas and after her retirement she served as a volunteer at St. James Mercy Hospital. When her children were younger Katharine was active with the PTA at the former Lincoln School in Hornell.
An avid fan of sports, she also loved to travel and enjoyed playing cards with her card club. Katharine was extremely proud of her Irish heritage, but most of all of her family.
Her family includes her three daughters, Christie (Mark) Whitman of York, Pa., Pamela (Ted) Powers of Natick, Mass. and Debbi Costa of Berlin, N.J.; her three grandchildren, Kevin (Sandy) Whitman, Ryan (Joanna) Costa and Fallon (Justin) Snider; her three great-grandchildren; her sister-in-law, Leora Rogers of Naples, Fla.; also her many nieces and nephews.
Katharine’s family would like to express their thanks to Dr. Nasar Chaudhry and her caregivers at McAuley Manor for their loving and dedicated care.
Calling hours are from 7-9 p.m. Friday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet her family at St. Ann’s Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday. Committal prayers and interment will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in her memory to either the Hornell YMCA, 12 Center St., Hornell, N.Y. 14843 or to the Alzheimer’s Assoc., 435 E. Henrietta Rd., Rochester, N.Y. 14620. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
I just found out about your mom and was very sad to hear about her passing. I was just thinking about her last week and had no idea she was 95! She always looked great. One of the many memories I had was when I was at your house and it was time to go home, your mom would drive me; but not before putting on her hat! She would never go anywhere without her hat, even if it was just around the block. I had great childhood memories of 40 Scott Street with my really great friend, Christy, along with Pam, Debbie, and Mickey. Memories never forgotten…
I have very fond memories of Kay as a child. She was one of my Grandmother’s (Jean Lieb) dearest, and oldest friends. I know my grandmother was there in heaven to greet Kay and welcome her home. May your many wonderful memories comfort you now in your time of loss.