A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Jerome J. Schmidt was celebrated on Thursday, Aug. 9 at Immaculate Conception Center Chapel, Douglaston.
He died Aug. 4 at Bishop Mugavero Residence for senior priests, Douglaston, where he had been living. He was 88.
Born in Brooklyn and baptized at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Windsor Terrace, he attended Cathedral College, Brooklyn, and Immaculate Conception Seminary, Huntington, L.I.
He was ordained June 11, 1949 by Bishop Thomas E. Molloy at St. James Pro-Cathedral, Downtown Brooklyn.
He served as an assistant at St. Christopher, Baldwin, 1949-52; St. Francis of Assisi, Crown Heights, 1952-65; Queen of Angels, Sunnyside, 1965-67; Our Lady of Victory, Bedford-Stuyvesant, 1967-70; St. Helen, Howard Beach, 1970-71; St. Thomas Aquinas, Flatlands, 1971-86; and Resurrection, Gerritsen Beach, 1986-97.
After retiring in 1997, he moved to Virginia and lived there until moving to the Bishop Mugavero Residence.
Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Chappetto was the main celebrant of the funeral Mass.
Special concelebrants included Msgrs. Michael Cantley and Austin Bennett. Father George Cowan preached the homily.
Father Cowan, who lives at Bishop Mugavero Residence, remembered Father Schmidt as “a gentle, caring and loving man.
“He suffered with Parkinson’s disease. He couldn’t control all his body’s motion. But he came to Mass every single day.
“He was a holy man who lived the way Jesus wanted him to live.
“People cared for him and he was loved. In return, he spent his life caring and loving people.”
Burial was in St. John’s Cemetery, Middle Village.
FR. SCHMIDT WAS A PRIEST & A MAN BY WHICH ALL OTHERS SHOULD BE JUDGED BY. HE WAS TRUELY A MAN OF JESUS CHRIST. NOW, HE HAS HIS FINAL REWARD IN THE BLISS OF HEAVEN FOR ETERNITY. GOD BLESS & KEEP HIM FOREVER IN HIS UNENDING CARE & LOVE.
Father Schmidt also served our men and women in uniform as a U.S. Air Force chaplain for many years, retiring as a Lieut. Colonel.
Father Schmidt was a wonderful person. I am truly blessed to have known him. He is truly missed. Thank God for such a dear and kind person. He always found the time to assist others and it was a joy to assist him. His love was unconditional, his joy and his smile were pleasurable and he could tell a funny story.
Father Schmidt was one of the most influential people in my life. I met him at St. Francis of Assisi. I was privileged to have him marry us and baptize our 5 children. We remained friends over the years and last spoke with him before we moved to Florida in 2010. I am a better person for having know this gentle giant.
It has been many years since I was a young school girl at Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Brooklyn. But to this day Father Schmidt has stood out in my mind. He was a very kind, caring and welcoming priest to all the children there. And he was always smiling. I am so happy I came across his picture and this article about him. And I do remember him too in his blue Air Force uniform. May he Rest In Peace. ✝️