Laurene Weiers

PHOENIX – Laurene (Lori) Schmit Weiers (96), Phoenix, Arizona, Passed away on August 31, 2021. She was born August 24, 1925, at the home of her parents, Valentine and Matilda Mangrich Schmit, in Fox Township, near Gilbertville, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Wilfred W. Weiers, in 2002. She was the 10th child in a family of 12. Surviving are two sisters in-law, Mary Lou Schmit, Waterloo, Iowa, and Marci Schmit, Gilbertville, Iowa; and by many nieces and nephews, and extended family. Her elementary education was received at Immaculate Conception School in Gilbertville and her high school at St. Mary’s, Waterloo, Iowa. She attended Briar Cliff College, Sioux City, Iowa, for two years, and earned her B.A at the College of St. Catherine, St. Paul, Minnesota in 1947. Her interest in biology led her to the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana, where she received her M.S degree in 1962. As a member of the School Sisters of Notre Dame, she taught biology and business classes in North Dakota and Minnesota. After leaving the convent, she married Wilfred W. Weiers, a former priest, in 1969. They moved to Phoenix shortly thereafter, where she continued to teach in various capacities, one of which was to teach handicapped adults. After retiring from teaching, she was employed by the Milton H. Erickson Foundation, a psychological organization, where she transcribed presentations given at workshops, was in charge of the volunteers at Congresses, and worked in the archives. She is especially grateful to her husband with whom she had a wonderful life, and with whom she traveled to numerous destinations throughout the world. After his death, she continued to travel, and in later life, enjoyed cruises. She did volunteer work at a branch library, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital, and read to Alzheimer patients. Her hobbies included reading, cooking, sewing, and gardening. She was especially grateful for maintaining a relationship with a number of close friends, nieces, nephews, and former students. She was preceded in death by both parents, 6 brothers, Lawrence (Mildred), Arnold (Genevieve), Irvin (Dorothy), Eugene (Beverly), Edwin, and Cletus; and 5 sisters, Marcella (William) Sadler, Martina (in infancy), Viola (Alfred) Frost, Agatha (Joseph) Thome, and Irma (Francis) Kresser. A Visitation will be held at A.L Moore – Grimshaw Mortuary, 710 W Bethany Home Rd, Phoenix, Arizona, on September 15, 2021 at 4:00 to 6:00 pm, A Mass of Celebration at the Franciscan Renewal Center at Our Lady of the Angels Church, 5802, E Lincoln Dr, Scottsdale, Arizona, 85253 on September 16, 2021 at 10:30 am. Burial will be held at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, Arizona on September 16, 2021 at 12:30 pm. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St, Phoenix, Arizona 85014, The Franciscan Renewal Center, or to the donor’s choice.