Loretta C. Schneider, age 88, died Friday, December 16, 2011 at Halcyon House after a lengthy illness.

Memorial Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 20th at St. James Catholic Church in Washington with Fr. Troy Richmond officiating. Visitation will begin noon Monday at the Jones Eden Funeral Home. Prayer services will be held 6:00 p.m. Monday, December 19th at the Jones Eden Funeral Home. Interment will take place at the St. Joseph's Cemetery in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Memorials have been established for the Hospice of Washington County or Halcyon House. Online condolences may be sent for Loretta's family through the web at www.jonesfh.com .

Loretta was born October 19, 1923 in Brighton, Iowa the daughter of Michael and Gertrude (Arndt) Fritz. Loretta was united in marriage to Melvin Schneider on September 10, 1949 at St. Joseph's Church in East Pleasant Plain, Iowa. Following their marriage, Loretta and Melvin were residents of Laramie, Wyoming; Eaton Rapids, Michigan; Riverside, Iowa; Crawfordsville, Iowa; Mason City, Iowa; Forrest City, Iowa; and had resided in Washington since 1968.

Loretta taught country school in the 1940s near the Brighton, Iowa area. She was also employed at the Washington County Hospital where she enjoyed working in the maternity ward and nursery with the new mothers and babies.

She is survived by her daughter Nancy Miller of Sand Point, Idaho; son Steven Schneider of Wellman, Iowa; grandson Aragon Miller and wife Lauren of Sagle, Idaho; two great grandchildren Stryder and Ayden Miller of Sagle, Idaho; three brothers Bob Fritz , Sylvester Fritz, and Cletus Fritz ; and one sister Marion Redlinger.
Loretta was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Melvin in 2006, daughter Mary Beth Schneider, brother John Fritz, brother Richard Fritz, brother Walter Fritz, and sister Alice Redlinger.