Donna Ruth Schmitt, loved the beach

Donna Ruth Schmitt, 70, of Rehoboth Beach passed away Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2021, at Delaware Hospice Center in Milford.  She was born Jan. 13, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pa., daughter of the late Robert and Ruth Williams.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pa., Donna graduated from John Bartam High School, class of 1968.  She then began a lifelong career with the U.S. government as a contract specialist, retiring in 1999 after many years of dedicated service. Longtime visitors of the Delaware coastal areas and lovers of the beach, Donna and her husband made Rehoboth Beach their permanent home in 2004. 

Donna enjoyed socializing, especially dancing and going out to dinners. She reveled in the company of others and was friendly to everyone she met.  A wonderful friend and listener, Donna lit up the room with her warm and gracious spirit.  She was a loving and devoted wife, sister, aunt and friend, who was loved by many and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Donna is survived by the love of her life since age 14, her husband of 49 years, Lawrence “Larry” J. Schmitt of Rehoboth Beach; her sisters:  Diane Doyle (Fran) of Holmes, Pa., and Elaine Golden of Rehoboth Beach; her sisters-in-law: Judy Krachner of Swarthmore, Pa., and Nancy West (Jim) of Long Neck; her nieces and nephews: Lisa Canterino (Jim), Hollie Riley (Sean), Joe D’Elia (Jana), Stephen D’Elia (Chrissy), Nicole Ritacco and Natalie Fischer (Jonathan); and her great-nieces and great-nephews: Nicholas, Lexi, Jessie, Thalia, Piper, Stephanie, Stephen Jr., Joe, Tristan, Max, Jake, Leah, Maya and Cora Jane.

Services are private.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Donna’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN  38105, or www.stjude.org.

Please visit Donna’s Life Memorial Webpage and sign her virtual guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.