Rose Rita Schmidt, 97, of St. Louis died May 21, 2021, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. She was born Aug. 12, 1923, in Edwardsville, Ill., the daughter of the late Robert L. and Florence (Holdinghausen) Schmidt. Her father died of tuberculosis when she was young, and was given a Catholic upbringing by her mother and grandparents. She studied with the Ursuline Sisters at Arcadia Academy and trained, studied and worked at colleges, hospitals and research facilities in Colorado and Missouri. The greatest portion of her career was in research laboratories at St. Louis University.
She was well known at Saint Joan of Arc Parish in south St. Louis, where she participated in “Christ Renews His Parish” and in the social justice ministry. Her large circle of friends was important to her, and she was generous with her time, talents, and resources. She was an avid stamp collector and gardener and enjoyed her pet cats. She took annual mission trips Cobán, Diocese of Alta Verapaz in Guatemala, and over the years recruited dozens of people to help her deliver medical supplies, educational resources and financial support.
Visitation is scheduled from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, May 26, at Hoffmeister Funeral Home, 6464 Chippewa, in St. Louis. Visitation and prayers will begin at 10 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 27, at Saint Joan of Arc Church. Burial is in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Crystal City. Memorials may be made to Saint Joan of Arc, 5800 Oleatha, St. Louis; to the Social Justice Ministry for Health and Education Projects of Verapaz Diocese in Cobán, Guatemala; or to the Ursulines of the Central Province, 353 South Sappington, St. Louis. Arrangements are under the direction of Hoffmeister Funeral Home.