Anita Laurie Schmidt – White Oak
Anita Laurie Schmidt, 66, of White Oak, died on Saturday, March 15, 2025, after a 17 year battle with cancer. She was a lifelong resident of White Oak, Pa., and loved the community. She was born at McKeesport Hospital on April 17, 1958, and was the daughter of the late George and Rose Pokrzwinski Matta. Anita graduated from McKeesport Area High School in 1976. Upon graduation she would enter the workforce, working for a multitude of different employers, regularly starting out at entry positions and being promoted to manager positions due to her work ethic. She was a hustler and always wanted to work. Anita married her school sweetheart, Patrick Schmidt, on Sept. 24, 1983, and they were together for 42 beautiful years. Anita loved being a mom to her kids and all the extended family who called her “Momma Schmidt.” Perhaps her favorite title though was being Nana to her grandkids, Raelynn and Patrick III. Anita was a life associate member of Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company in White Oak and was a fixture at all the fire company functions — always supporting her boys. Anita was also a woman of faith and a devout member of the Mary, Mother of God Parish. And let’s not forget she was a proud Polish girl. Anita was tiny but tough; she never stopped fighting in her battle with cancer and fought every day until the end. She was also the life of the party wherever she went and always had a way of making everyone feel welcome. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Anita is survived by her husband, Patrick Schmidt; sons, Patrick (Brandi), Schmidt II, and Brandon Schmidt; and grandchildren, Raelynn and Patrick III. In addition to her parents, Anita was preceded in death by her brother, George Matta. Family and friends are invited to gather to honor her memory from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 21, 2025, at STRIFFLERS OF WHITE OAK CREMATION AND MORTUARY SERVICES INC., 1100 Lincoln Way, White Oak, PA 15131 (Sue Striffler Galaski, supervisor, 412-678-6177). Family and friends will be meeting at Mary, Mother of God Parish, St. Angela Merici Church, 2701 Kelly St., White Oak, PA 15131, for a Mass of Christian burial at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2025. A burial will follow. To share a memory or condolence, please visit www.strifflerfuneralhomes. com.
Strifflers
