Gloria V. Schmidt

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gloria V. Schmidt (nee VanVolkom), age 86, of Riverdale, NJ.  Gloria passed away peacefully in her home on November 20, 2024 while receiving the loving care of her family.

Gloria was born in Newark NJ, and lived briefly in Kearny before her family moved to Lyndhurst NJ.  She was the youngest of three children to Francis and Helen VanVolkom. Gloria attended Washington Elementary School in Lyndhurst, NJ and graduated from Lyndhurst High School. Gloria was predeceased by her parents Francis and Helen VanVolkom, her sister Phyllis Rieves, and her brother Frank VanVolkom.  

Gloria’s first job after high school was with Bell Telephone, which was a great job for her because she loved talking on the phone.  Gloria left the workforce to become a superstar mother and homemaker to her five children.  Once Gloria’s children were in school she returned to the workforce, first as a cafeteria worker at West Essex High School in North Caldwell, NJ, where a smile, a friendly greeting or manners would always get you an extra helping of the daily special.  Gloria left West Essex High School and went to Adlai E. Stevenson Elementary School in Fairfield, NJ  as a Kindergarten assistant where she spent many fulfilling years and touched the lives of hundreds of children fortunate enough to be in class with her.  Gloria enjoyed creating memorable crafts with the students often completing the crafts at home adding her beautiful penmanship to the craft.  After retiring, Gloria spent a few more years as a substitute assistant at Stevenson Elementary School, continuing to provide the love and support the children flourished from.

Gloria’s heart was as pure and loving as the Hallmark Movies that she loved to watch on a daily basis, and she always had a kind word for everyone she met.  In her younger years, Gloria was an avid bowler and spent many years in bowling leagues with her girlfriends.  Gloria loved the many summers that she, Don and their children spent in Fort Myers, FL with her parents, sister, nieces and nephews.  The beach and waters of the Gulf of Mexico were home to her.  In their later years, Don and Gloria vacationed in Myrtle Beach SC, in a Villa they shared with Kathy and Rich.  Gloria loved spending hours sitting at the water's edge talking or reading the many books that she was always known to have in her purse.  Sundays at noon were always reserved for her phone calls with her mother in Florida, with Gloria sitting at the kitchen table with her ear to the rotary phone and the long cord attached.  Gloria and Don have been blessed with amazing lifelong friends who they vacationed in the Poconos with, played cards with, went out to dinner with, and partied with, that filled their lives with priceless memories.  Gloria embraced the times when her children and their families got together for holidays, special celebrations and vacations.  

Gloria met the love of her life, Don when she was only 10 years old and he was 12, and they’ve been together for the last 76 years.  Gloria and Don were married on September 20, 1958, at Sacred Heart Parish in Lyndhurst and Honeymooned in the Poconos.  The newlyweds settled in Lyndhurst, NJ for several years and started a family, before moving to Fairfied, NJ as their family grew. Gloria and Don were blessed with five children, Karen Meador and her husband Glen, Kathy Poshkus and her husband Rich, Karolyn Adams and her husband Warren (Nippy), Kristine Muller and her husband Keith, and Donald Charles Jr. (DJ).  Gloria and Don continued to be blessed with twelve grandchildren, Michael Meador, Paul Meador, Shawn Meador and his fiance Mariah Sayger, Jeffrey Poshkus, Jaclyn Poshkus and her partner Corey Bailey, Kyle Adams and his wife Kaitlin, Jennilyn Adams, Tyler Adams and his fiance Zoiee Baumgartel, Eric McMullen, Thomas Muller and his wife Nicole, Brian Muller and his fiance Jessica Cronin, and Zachary Muller.  Gloria and Don were overjoyed to welcome their first great grandchild, Mason Adams.  Gloria is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and lifelong friends who were more like family to her.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a donation in Gloria’s name are asked to consider a donation to The Alzheimer's Association or The Atlantic Visiting Nurse Hospice Organization