Janice Schmucker

JANICE (VREELAND) SCHMUCKER Janice Schmucker, 89, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2021, at her home in Kinnelon. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Janice was born in Butler, NJ to the late Clarence and late Evelyn (Knowe) Vreeland. She lived in Butler, Ellenville, NY and Riverdale and graduated from Butler HS in 1949. Janice worked for the 5 & 10 in Pompton Lakes, NJ Bell, making supervisor at the age of 19, and trained new students, she loved her job! Janice did the books for her husbands mason company, who sponsored her bowling team at Butler Bowl, worked at Pearl R. Miller School and JCP&L, from where she retired in 1994. Janice volunteered at the voting polls and helped with Girl Scouts. She enjoyed the many Vreeland traditions, playing canasta, senior trips and groups and being with family. She loved her flowers! Janice is survived by her three adored daughters, Cheryl Marienthal and Jere Hunziker, Jill Treweeke and her husband Thomas, and Michele Pickard and her husband Gary. Also surviving are her eight grandchildren Thomas Treweeke and his wife Lauren, Lisa Marron and her husband Garret, Katherine Treweeke, Rachel Treweeke, Cody Marienthal, Nicole Vigorita and her husband Andrew, Dylan Pickard, Danielle Pickard, four great-grandchildren Hudson, Emma, Lily and Anna and her sisters, Lorraine Moody, Arlene Gormley and Donna Schreyer. Janice was predeceased by her beloved husband William (Bill) Schmucker in 1967, her loving son William (Billy) Schmucker in 2001, and by her siblings Clarice Rose, Marilyn DeStaffen and Ward Vreeland. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 13, 2021 from 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the Morrison Funeral Home, 86 Bartholdi Ave, Butler, NJ. A Memorial Mass will be offered, 9:00 am on Saturday, August 14, 2021 at Our Lady of The Magnificat, 2 Miller Road, Kinnelon, NJ. Interment will immediately follow mass at Our Lady of The Magnificat Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made in Janices memory to St Jude Children Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/ Hello Grandmas life journey is quite an extraordinary and remarkable journey and I am honored to be able to tell it through the eyes of Aunt Cheryl, Aunt Jill and my mom, Michele. Janice Vreelands story begins on December 1, 1931. She was 2nd in line out of 7 siblings. She was born with the most beautiful blue eyes, which would become her legacy. Grandma had a close-knit family and was very close to her sisters and one brother Clarice, Lorraine, Arlene, Marilyn, Donna and Ward. They were not only siblings to her; they were her friends. Although, she had fond childhood memories, she grew up with an alcoholic father which only made her siblings become stronger and closer. She lived on Kiel Ave in Butler, Ellenville, NY and then moved to Morris Ave in Riverdale. Grandma attended Butler High School and got a job working as an Operator at Bell Telephone. She loved her job as a Switchboard Operator. She then met Bill Schmucker at a dance in Boonton. Grandma grew up in the Protestant faith and before marriage, she converted to the Catholic religion. They were soon married in 1953. They bought property on Boonton Ave in Kinnelon and since Grandpa was a Mason, he built a small house in which they lived in. They lived in that small house while he built their home, in which Grandma raised her family in. That small house became the 2 car detached garage. Cheryl was born in 1956 and then Jill in 1957 as they settled into their new home. Billy came along in 1960 and then Michele in 1964. They had a nice family and a prosperous budding business. Grandma managed Grandpas books and was home with the children. They purchased property on Kinnelon Road and had plans drawn up to build an amazing house. With their prosperous business and strong Catholic faith, they were able to contribute into building Our Lady of Magnificat School in Kinnelon in 1964. Tragedy struck on January 21, 1967, Micheles 3rd birthday. Grandpa fell off a ladder at the Rubber Mill in Butler, went into a coma and died the next day. He was 38 years old. Grandma was widowed with 4 children at the age of 35 years old. Cheryl was 10, Jill 9, Billy 6 and Michele 3. With the help of her strong family ties and Grandpas family, Grandma had the strength to raise all 4 children. Grandma was a devout Catholic and her Catholic faith played a big role to cope with her loss. Priests coming to visit Grandmas house was part of everyday life. Grandma came to find out that Billy had neurological issues and had Cyerbal Palsy. Doctor and therapist visits were becoming the norm. Grandma would make those trips bearable by treating her children to a burger and fries at Goodies afterwards. Grandma managed to send her children to Our Lady of the Magnificat Catholic School. She took such pride when the Nuns would comment that they all had freshly scrubbed faces. Their uniforms were always neatly pressed and the children had crisp white shirts. The family faithfully attended Mass every Sunday, visited and maintained Grandpas grave, then always off to see one of the GrandParents. Sunday was a day of rest and to visit family. Strong Catholic beliefs were instilled in the children and now I know where that "Catholic guilt" comes from. Grandma maintained an extremely organized, structured home life for her children. Food shopping was on Wednesdays. She would drop the bags off at the side door on her way to the garage and the children would carry the bags inside, but not before digging through the bag to find the "candy of the week". Grandma loved her sweets and her children followed suit. Once the bag of candy was gone, which basically happened within an hour, they would have to wait until next Wednesday for the next fix for their sweet tooths. Grandma got a job working in the cafeteria of the Pearl R Miller School so she could have the same schedule as the children would have and summers off. There are many fond memories of week long LBI annual trips down the shore with the Moody and Gormley Families. She would host many Labor Day Picnics and participated in the Vreeland Round Robin at Christmas-time. Grandma was a traditionalist. Great Grandma Vreeland would always bring bags of candy to the countless family picnics. Grandma and all her family followed suit and the bags of candy were a staple at all the family picnics. Grandma even waitressed with Aunt Cheryl at the Smoke Rise Inn for special events. Not sure if she did it for the money or just to get out of the house. Grandma ran a tight ship. She maintained an impeccable home, inside and out. She was always cleaning and outside doing her own yardwork. Whether it was raking leaves in the fall, planting flowers in the spring, shoveling the snow in the winter or mowing the lawn in the summer. She did it all. The inside of her house was spotless. She was an incredible cook and baker. She expected her children to be respectful, clean and to be home for dinner on time. She was a strong, elegant, brave, proud, proper lady. Instead of saying "excuse me?", she would say "I beg your pardon?" Grandma was the ultimate role model and anyone would be proud to be a part of this beautiful family that she created. Grandma worked as a Clerk at Jersey Central Power & Light for 13 years. She retired in 1994 to focus on Billys increased needs to once again become the caregiver she was put on this earth for. One by one, her daughters moved out of the house and got married and it was her and Billy. Mom remembers Grandma telling her it was an adjustment to sit at the dinner table with the empty seats. So now Grandma, your seat at the table will be empty and it will be an adjustment for all of us. Grandma became a Grand Mother to Cody, Nicole, Tommy, Lisa, Katherine, Rachel, Dylan and Danielle and a great Grand Mother to Hudson, Emma, Lily, Anna and another one on the way. She cherished them all always wanting to hear what they were up to. All the grand kids made it a point to come and visit her. Another tragic turn hit Grandmas life on September 12, 2001 when her only son, Billy, passed away at the age of 41 of Colin Cancer. Everyone rallied around her to help with Billy and to keep him home. Her girls questioned if Grandma would ever recover from the loss of her son, but again, with lots of love, family and faith, she was able to pick up the pieces and move on. Grandma loved playing Canasta. She was involved with the Kinnelon, Bloomingdale and Pompton Plains Senior Centers. She attended many events and trips and loved going to the Barn Theater. Grandma had a massive heart attack in 2009. She delayed medical treatment thinking she had the flu. Five days without treatment really damaged her heart. She needed triple by pass surgery. It took Grandma a good year to accept this as the new normal and adjust to her medications. But once again, she picked up the pieces and moved forward. For many, the pandemic was not easy. The isolation from the Pandemic really took a toll on Grandma and the decline of her health increased during this time. All she wanted was to be home, surrounded by the most loving family she created. She was like a captain going down with the ship. She wanted to be home in the house she loved so much. Grandma was truly a spiritual woman. As we spent more and more time with her at the end, we would spend nights there and would hear her pray out loud. Grandma worshiped the sun. She loved sitting on her porch. Two days before she left us, Mom was with her and a ray of sunlight beamed across her chest and clear as day she said "I have to go". Well, Grandma, its OK you headed to the sunlight you loved so much to be with the loved ones you have lost. You know they say, we become our parents. Well, you know what ? Any daughter would be honored to become the strong, dedicated, elegant, brave, courageous, faithful Mother you were. Although it seemed like you didnt want to leave us we all feel peace and calmness now knowing you were greeted in heaven by your loving husband, son and Mother. There is yet another Angel in heaven. So now, Grandma, we have that empty seat at our table which will be a void that will never be filled. I think I can make a promise on behalf of all my Aunts and Cousins that we will do our best to keep all the family traditions you have created and cherished alive and going in your honor. One other thing..Grandma loved Cardinals, so please Grandma if you can hear us, send signs from heaven, well be watching for them. . Visitation The Morrison Funeral Home Friday, August 13, 2021 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Email Details 86 Bartholdi ave.Butler, New Jersey 07405 The delta variant of COVID-19 has caused a recent uptick in positive cases of the coronavirus in New Jersey and more deaths than had been reported a month ago, causing Governor Phil Murphy to recommend that both vaccinated and unvaccinated residents wear masks at indoor public gatherings where there might be increased risk of infection. Directions Mass Our Lady of Magnificat RC Church Saturday, August 14, 2021 9:00 AM Email Details 2 Miller Rd.Kinnelon, NJ 07405 The funeral service will be live streamed on the church's web site. Directions Burial Our Lady of Magnificat RC Church Saturday, August 14, 2021 10:00 AM Email Details 2 Miller Rd.Kinnelon, NJ 07405 Directions