Alice C. Schmitz

Alice Christine Schmitz, 77, of Afton, was called home to the Lord Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, at Greater Regional Medical Center. Alice was born Sept. 11, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to Robert Dale Hartman and Margaret Bernadine (Miller) Hartman and was the oldest of five children. She graduated from Hoover High School in San Diego, California, in 1963.

On Nov. 28, 1964, Alice was united in marriage to Terence John Schmitz in the St. Therese Catholic Church San Diego. They later separated.

Alice devoted her life to taking care of people both professionally and in her personal life. She worked as a CNA and later as a teacher’s aide at El Canto Elementary School. After moving to Afton, she worked as an in-home daycare provider where even the children she watched called her Grandma Alice.

In her free time, you could find her with her family. She enjoyed attending her children’s and grandchildren’s school events. Her devotion to her family didn’t stop with her children and grandchildren but included her dogs, Girdie and Sunny.

Survivors include her separated husband, Terence Schmitz; four children: Christopher Schmitz of Mankato, Minnesota, Angela Avila of Afton, Theresa Lujano of San Diego and Christine (Ray) LaCoste of Slidell, Louisiana; 16 grandchildren: Amanda, Hunter, Kyle, Lexi, Eddie, Nicole, Dawn, Christopher, Bobby, Sarah, Sean, Bryan, Jacquelyn, Daniel, Gabriel and Emma; 12 great-grandchildren; siblings Robert Hartman, Ronald Hartman, Anne Kuehn and Ruth Hartman.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Margaret Hartman; brother-in-law, Joseph Kuehn; daughter, Maryalice Schmitz and granddaughters, Christiana Herrera and Elizabeth “Minnie” Lujano.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25 at St. Edward’s Catholic Church in Afton. Father Patrick Amedaka will officiate. There will be a prayer rosary at 10 a.m. prior to the service Monday. Burial will be in St. Edward’s Catholic Cemetery near Afton, followed by a light lunch in the church basement.

Memorials can be directed to the family. Online condolences may be made at www.powersfh.com.