Sister Lucille A. Schmitmeyer

Sister Lucille (Lucy) Schmitmeyer, 87, of the Sisters of St. Francis of Tiffin, Ohio, died at 1:38 a.m. Saturday, January 16, 2021, at St. Francis Home.

She was born April 17, 1933, in St. Sebastian, Ohio, to Ben J. and Agatha E. (Albers) Schmitmeyer.

Surviving are three sisters, Hattie (Ivo) Knapke, Eunice (Willard) Dahlinghaus, and Ella Mae (Roger) Watercutter; a brother, Martin (Marie) Schmitmeyer, and two sisters-in-law, Alma Schmitmeyer, and Mildred Schmitmeyer.

She was preceded in death by her parents, three sisters, Marian (Gregor) Evers, Mary Evelyn (Louie) Bruns, and Theresa Lois Schmitmeyer, three brothers, Luke, Ernest, and Fredrick Bernard Schmitmeyer, and a sister-in-law, Lucille Schmitmeyer.

Sister Lucy earned her Master's Degree in Education Administration from the University of Notre Dame. She began her ministry as an elementary teacher at Edgerton, Ft. Jennings, Millersville, and St. John’s Annex at Delphos; and as an elementary teacher and principal at New Cleveland and Fort Jennings. While teaching at Fort Jennings she also served as the director of the Summer Migrant Program. After educating children for 23 years, Sister Lucy was called to serve as a missionary and pastoral minister in Chiapas, Mexico for the next 24 years. Upon her return to the United States, she became a Minister of Prayer and Service for the congregation. In 2009 she became a resident at St. Francis Home, where she spent many hours conversing with the other residents of whom she said, “I believe that each elderly person living at St. Francis Home is a gold mine.” At the time of her death she served as a Minister of Prayer and Presence for the Congregation.

Sister Lucy was a fun-loving person who loved to have snacks and “little treasures” to give to those who visited her. Spending time with her family and friends was very important to her. She enjoyed the beauty of the campus as she walked to the grotto, the gazebo and through the flower garden. Her eyes lit up at the mention of a card game taking place and of course, she enjoyed winning. Her generous heart was shared with the inmates at Seneca County Jail as she prayed and visited them sometimes in English and other times in Spanish.

The Sisters of St. Francis wish to extend their gratitude to the nursing staff and everyone at St. Francis Home for the wonderful care Sister Lucy received over the years as a resident.

Due to Covid 19 there will be no visitation. A private funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 21, 2021, at St. Francis Convent Chapel, officiated by Reverend Gary Walters. Burial will follow in St. Francis Convent Cemetery.

All services are private, but will be live-streamed and can be viewed at www.tiffinfranciscans.org, or at the funeral home website.

Memorials may be made to St. Francis Convent or St. Francis Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, Ohio  44883 (419)447-3113.
To send online condolences or for livestreaming, go to www.traunerofuneralhome.com