Adelaide Laemmrich Schaenzer

CLARKSVILLE, VA- Adelaide Ethel Laemmrich Schaenzer, 96, of Ivy Hill Road, died peacefully Wednesday, February 5, 2025 at her home. Born December 1, 1928 in Milwaukee, WI, she was the daughter of the late Elsie Tuchscherer Laemmrich and Alex Laemmrich and was the widow of Richard Carl “Dick” Schaenzer. Adelaide was the heart and soul of her family. She created long lasting family traditions which have been passed down to all her children and their families. Adelaide loved to entertain, from elaborate dinner parties to hot dogs on the boat. She was beloved by her children and remained close in their lives no matter the distance. She was a stay-at-home Mom who baked every day and always made home seem like the best place to be. She was the consummate homemaker with an admirable tool chest of skills. She was an accomplished seamstress who made prom dresses and Halloween costumes to full window treatments throughout all her homes. She was a Girl Scout and Brownie leader, chauffeur, school substitute band and art teacher and most importantly advisor and confidant to her children. Adelaide was a talented artist from sketches and drawings to calligraphy and faux painted furniture. She was a naturally gifted piano player and ensured all her children were taught to play as well. Adelaide loved her final home, a waterfront lake house on 10 wooded acres, where she lived for the past 37 years the most. Adelaide and her beloved husband, Dick, spent a large part of their retirement actively clearing their land themselves, planting gardens, creating walkways, building lake piers and entertaining. Adelaide was also a very active and beloved member of her community and church. For over 30 years she was a member of the Women’s Altar Guild running fund raisers and helping the needy. She was very close to her only sister, Sister Aimee, a devoted Franciscan nun for over 70 years and another close member of our family. Adelaide was the model of hospitality, and the example of a life well lived. She will be forever cherished and missed by her family. Her memorial service will be held at St. James Catholic Church on Wednesday, February 12, 2025 at 2:00 P.M. by Father William Rodriguez. She is survived by her four children, Tom Schaenzer and wife, Denise of Oxford MI, Joyce Grainger and husband, Jerry and Mary Berls and husband, Bill, both of Raleigh, and Ann Stott and husband, Johnny of Henderson; six grandchildren, Morgan Southerland and husband, Matt, Natalie Picano and husband, John, Jack Berls, Cole Schaenzer, Brad Schaenzer, and John Stott, Jr.; five great grandchildren, Madison, John, Airlie, Camille, and Camden; and her caregivers, Dianne Fulcher, Angela Fulcher and Diane Lynch. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Sister Aimee Laemmrich and her brother, John Laemmrich. The family will receive friends following the service on Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made the to the Women’s Altar Guild at St. James Catholic Church, Henderson, NC.