Joan S. Schneider (nee Schweigerdt), a lifetime resident of Chicago; cherished wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend, passed away on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. Joan is survived by her loving family, daughter Donna (Paul) Claycomb and her grandchildren Claire Schneider, Amy (Claycomb) Colantonio (AJ), Caitlin Schneider and Timothy Claycomb; daughter in-law Deborah (Rizzolo) Schneider; nieces Patricia Beal, Judy Kern, Lynn Creighton and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Donald, son David, and siblings Carol (the late Richard Altergott) and Henry Schweigerdt.

Through good times and bad, Joan was the steadfast anchor of the family. In addition to spending time with family, she enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, watching TV sit-coms with her grandson, and while she was still able she served her church, which her family had membership for four generations. Joan served at Eden United Church of Christ, Chicago, in many capacities. Starting as a Sunday School teacher, then participating and leading the Daughters of Eden, served on the worship committee and was Eden's first woman president.

Joan had a career as a secretary/administrative assistant for a variety of different fields, including insurance, retail (Wolke & Kotler, Chicago), legal, and medical billing. Back in the day she did a mean shorthand and was a speedy typist. And let's not forget before her secretarial career, she worked at the corner neighborhood Fannie Mae Candies store where she developed her sweet tooth that lasted to the very end.

Joan's family is planning a private memorial celebration of life in the near future. Donations in memory of Joan can be made to the Forget-Me-Not fund at Eden United Church of Christ, 5051 W. Gunnison St., Chicago, IL 60630 or to the American Red Cross https://www.redcross.org