Joanne McCabe Schmitz

            Joanne McCabe Schmitz, 91, of Rockville, Maryland formerly of Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Rockford, Illinois, died Saturday, June 29, 2019, at her home in Rockville. Joanne was born in Rockford, Illinois in 1928, the daughter of William E. (Ned) and Anna E. (Hayes) McCabe and sister of John (Jack) McCabe.  She attended Bishop Muldoon Catholic High School in Rockford and was editor-in-chief of her high school newspaper.  At St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Indiana, she served as class president and graduated in 1950 with a BA degree in Sociology and Politics. Joanne was employed by Rockford Morning Star and Register Republic Newspapers. 

            Joanne married Dale Joseph Schmitz of Rockford in 1953. Her beloved husband, Dale, predeceased her in October 2016. They have four children, Susan (David) Petrocci of Rockville; Nancy (Frank Corn) Schmitz of Hilton Head Island, SC; Patricia (Gerald) Olszewski of Potomac, and Thomas (Caryl) Schmitz of Gettysburg, PA. She has 11 grandchildren - Katherine Petrocci, Matthew Petrocci, Laura Petrocci, Sarah Petrocci Cerrone, Patrick Bowersox, Timothy Bowersox, Christopher Olszewski, Claire Olszewski, T.J. Schmitz, Elizabeth Schmitz, Joseph Schmitz and seven great-grandchildren, Dominic and Marcelo Petrocci, John Cerrone, Ava Martinez, Madison Alpert, and Alexander and Luke Olszewski. 

            Throughout her life, Joanne was active in her church, women’s clubs, school volunteer activities, community organizations, and St. Mary’s College Alumnae Association.  She was a long-time member of the Lancaster Country Club.  She most enjoyed spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as reading, shopping, playing bridge, traveling, and keeping up with long-time and newfound friends.

            Funeral arrangements are being made by Cole Funeral Services. The funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. on August 3, 2019. A private interment will be at the Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery in Silver Spring, Maryland.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Joanne’s memory may be made to Ingleside at King Farm Resident Supporting Fund, c/o Westminster Ingleside Foundation, 2275 Research Blvd., Suite 450, Rockville, MD, 20850  https://www.givetowif.org/donate.html