Obituary of Gladys Mary Schumacher

Living in the same home she & her husband constructed in 1960, and a resident of Aiken for 62 years, Gladys Mary Schumacher entered into eternal peace on May 22, 2022.

Gladys Mary Olsen was born in Ridgewood, NY January 2nd, 1922. Daughter of John and Mary Olsen. Although her exact birth year was always called into question after her father changed the birth certificate to allow her to attend a soon-to-be-constructed school, Gladys was witness to 100 years of glorious life, 36,640 sunrises.

Wonderfully spunky & sassy Gladys lived life on her terms, experiencing 2 pandemics, the Great Depression, the advent of television, the telephone, air conditioning, automobiles, World War II, the Korean & Vietnam Wars, and humans walking on the moon…just to name a few.

A graduate of St. John’s University with a degree in marketing she worked in the human resources department for John’s Mansfield. Her first date with the boy who lived 3 doors down the street, Walter Henry Schumacher, raised her eyebrows when he crushed a beer can with one hand. The couples' adventures continued, with over 60 years of marriage. Their union produced 5 children (Anne, Carol, Kathy, David & John), 12 grandchildren (Matthew, Cate, Stephen, Kathleen, Margaret, Colleen, Regan, Whitney, Kelsey, James, Natalie and Emilee), and 6 1/2 great grand children (Lily, Emelia, Samuel, Aiden, Jack, Noah) & soon to be baby boy V

Gladys was fiercely independent, whether it be riding the bus down Metropolitan Ave. or arguing over a lost wager with Walter after a Giants/Dodgers’ game. She loved “the city”, New York City. She was single handedly credited by her husband for keeping the city’s economy afloat.

A voracious reader and member of numerous local book clubs, she never missed a chance to compose hand written letters and cards. She actively corresponded with her family mailing weekly letters, along with birthday cards to everyone she knew. An avid bridge player who still subscribed to the local newspaper so she could complete the daily JUMBLE puzzle, successfully.

A proud owner of both a Pontiac Firebird and Ford Mustang, Gladys never missed an opportunity to Dress to the Nines with a her signature large frame glasses, colorful scarves & a fedora or driving hat for every day of the week.

Her ability to recollect the names of obscure actors from a 1930’s Turner Classic Movie was only surpassed by her love of all things dessert, especially chocolate. Gladys was famous for opening a menu to the dessert section first so she could decide upon her dessert before ordering her meal.

Whether you are able to join us in person or celebrate from afar, we ask you to adorn yourself in yellow for a Yellow Celebration of Gladys’ incredible life and honor a once in a life time brightness.

An active parishioner of St. Mary’s Help of Christians Catholic Church and St. Mary’s Women’s Club. A Requiem Mass will be celebrated at 1:00pm on Friday, May 27th at St. Mary’s (Park Ave). Interment will take place in New York at a later date.

The family will receive friends at GEORGE FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTER, 211 Park Ave. SW Aiken on Thursday from 5:30-7:00pm with a Rosary being said at 5:30pm. 

Memorials may be sent to St. Mary’s Help of Christians Catholic Church or Give Kids The World in Kissimmee, FL.