Caledonia Argus

Schmitt sisters thrive on volunteering

Posted: 4/23/02

by Jane Palen
Managing editor

Mildred and Lorraine Schmitt have never given a lot of thought to how much money they could make or whether people have noticed their contributions to their church and community. To them, doing what needs to be done is just the way they were raised, and how they spent their lives.

Born in rural Caledonia, Mildred and Lorraine moved into town when they were freshman at Loretto High School. They remember when times were hard and there wasnít much money to go around. But they also saw their parents, Frank and Elizabeth, give to the church what they could. They attended Parochial school, and they remember that their parents had to pay 75 cents for each of them at report card time. Although it doesnít sound like a large amount, but in those years it represented a sacrifice.

ìThey were hard times,î said Lorraine. ìDad sold the last pigs for 10 cents, and sold the farm for $4,000.î

The twins followed the example set by their parents. While still in high school, they began paying church support.

The importance of family was also a lesson learned early.

ìMa always had everyone at our house,î said Mildred. The Schmitt home was the place for the extended families to gather. The twins inherited their talent for cooking from their motherís family.

ìShe was a Thery, and all the Therys were good cooks,î said Lorraine.

After they graduated from high school in 1947, Mildred and Lorraine worked for eight years at the Caledonia Bakery. During that time, they also catered some funeral dinners and weddings. Their parents and others encouraged them to go into the catering business, which they did. Their parents worked alongside of them, cooking and doing dishes. Their father was the chief sampler of the food they were preparing. They also depended on their help to give them honest opinions on the quality of the food.

Church has an important role

Their church, St. Maryís, has always played a central role in the lives of Mildred and Lorraine. If there is work to do at the church, they are likely to be found leading the effort.

The history of the funeral circle at St. Maryís can be traced to Mildred and Lorraine. For a number of years, different circles in the church would prepare and serve meals for funerals. But the meals would vary in quantity and quality from one funeral to the next. At one particular funeral dinner, there were many out of town guests and not enough food.

ìIt was embarrassing for the parish,î said Mildred.

ìIt upset me so terrible, I told Lorraine, we have to get a funeral circle started and get people who can work,î said Mildred. People told her it wouldnít work, but it has worked now for a number of years.

Since that time, they have been in charge of the funeral dinners at St. Maryís. They havenít kept track, but estimate they have served around 300 funerals. When they are gone, the co-chairman fills in for the dinners.

Thereís been some suggestions that the funeral dinners could be more informal, but as long as the twins are in charge, things arenít likely to change.

ìI wouldnít give in to paper plates come hell or high water,î said Lorraine. ìIf youíre going to do something nice, thereís going to be work involved.î

Keeping the church clean

For a number of years, Mildred and Lorraine have cleaned St. Maryís Church. Neither remembers exactly how long they have been doing itóbut estimate that itís been 15-20 years. The church has been in the midst of a remodeling project for a number of months, so it hasnít been necessary to clean it, but it is a huge job when the church is open. From vacuuming under all the pews to cleaning the ornate woodwork on the ends of the pews with a nail file, itís a job in which they take great pride.

ìItís fun to see that church sparkle when youíre done,î said Mildred.

Faith, duty and service are the hallmarks of Mildred and Lorraineís work at St. Maryís, according to Father Don Schmitz.

ìThey have been more enduring than the pastors,î he said, adding that any remuneration they receive for their work is a pittance compared to the service they provide.

Mildred and Lorraine assist Fr. Schmitz by helping with services and distributing communion to the residents of the Lutheran Home. They are the backbone of the Catholic Daughters of America chapter at St. Maryís, said Fr. Schmitz. They have often offered their hospitality to Fr. Schmitz, and have shared holiday meals with him.

ìThey have been very gracious,î said Fr. Schmitz. ìThey are servants of the church,î he said.

The twins have been members of the CDA for more than 50 years, and belong to the St. Elizabeth Society at St. Maryís in addition to being chairmen of the funeral circle.

Mildred and Lorraine also spent many years caring for other families. Sometimes, it was helping out after a new baby was born, or caring for an elderly person who was ill. They hold all of them close in their hearts. They look forward to visits from the children they used to care for.

As twins, Mildred and Lorraine believe they share a closeness that is special.

ìYou can feel inside of you when there is something wrong with the other one,î said Lorraine.

They are used to being confused with each other, and it doesnít bother them at all.

ìWe answer to both names,î said Mildred. ìWe donít bother correcting people.î

Lorraine and Mildred are active in the Senior Citizen, and Lorraine is president of the organization. They do entertaining at various senior centers and nursing homes in the area, belong to different card clubs, and enjoy eating out. They bake pies for the nursing home every other week for ìtea time.î Lorraine enjoys cooking and trying out new recipes, and has an extensive recipe collection. She likes new recipes, she said, because when youíve been cooking and baking as long as she has, ìyou run out of ideas.î

Mildred and Lorraine say they live the way they do because they enjoy it, and because it gives them a sense of satisfaction to do for others.

ìYou feel youíre doing something good,î said Lorraine.

ìWe never looked where we could make the most money. We went where we were needed the most.î

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