Olivia Schneider

Olivia B. Schneider, age 85 of Melrose, formerly of Freeport, died Friday, September 22, 2006 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, September 26 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Rev. Roger Klassen, OSB will officiate with interment following in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church in Freeport. Christian Mothers will pray at 4 p.m. followed by Melrose VFW Auxiliary at 7 p.m. and parish prayers at 8 p.m. Monday evening at the church.

Olivia Schneider was born July 16, 1921 in Saint Rosa, Minnesota to Matthew and Mary (Finken) Riehm. On July 9, 1946 she married Cyril Schneider in St. Joseph, Minnesota. The couple resided in Alaska for many years and upon retirement moved to Freeport in 1975. Since 1990 they had resided in Melrose. The couple served as volunteer drivers for Stearns County Social Services for many years. Olivia enjoyed needle work, such as embroidering dish towels, baking pies and canning and much of her work was donated to parish festivals. She also enjoyed fishing on Maple Lake.Olivia was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Christian Mothers, and Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 Auxiliary of Melrose.

Survivors include her husband, Cyril Schneider of Melrose; daughter, Carol Schneider of Melrose; three grandchildren, Paul Sturgeon, Debbie Ansiel and Michael Conner; three great grandchildren, Ashley Hogan, Stacy Ansiel and Jimmy Ansiel; sister and brothers, Mayme Bischoff of White Bear Lake and Norbert (Elise) Riehm of Weatherford, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Rose Muellner; and brothers, Matthew, Johnny, Gilbert, Henry, Freddy and Albert Riehm.

Serving as casket bearers will be Bill and Paul Sturgeon, Michael Conner, Frank, Joe and Norbert Riehm. Cross bearer will be Stacy Ansiel and scripture bearer will be Jimmy Ansiel.