Delores M. Schmid, age 83 of Appleton and formerly of Wild Rose and Beaver Dam, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 29, 2012 at her home surrounded by family.

Delores was born on February 27, 1929 in Beloit, WI to George and Verdella (nee Immerfall) Graff. On January 24, 1948 she was united in marriage to Emil "Pete" A. Schmid at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Beaver Dam. Delores was a person of devout faith and family. She always would open her heart and home to everyone. Some family friends even referred to her as "Mom". She was the "family glue" and would sacrifice to put others needs, especially her families, ahead of her own. Delores was a great listener and had a special knack of making everyone else feel special, welcomed and proud. She left a special gift to her family by instilling in them strong faith and "true" values. Delores enjoyed reading, playing bingo, listening to music and later in life, Delores and Emil wintered in Lake Wales, Florida for several years. Following Emil's death in 1999 she generously sponsored Bai Fern, an orphaned child in Thailand. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and will be dearly missed. Delores was a member of the former St. Peter's and St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Beaver Dam, St. Katharine Drexel Parish in Beaver Dam along with St. Joe's Catholic Church in Wautoma and St. Thomas More in Appleton.

Delores is survived by her children, Jeanne (Richard) Hotchkiss of Wild Rose, WI, Steven (Cheryl) Schmid of Beaver Dam, Leanne (Robert) Pfaffenroth Winneconne, WI, Darlene (David) Hanke of North Fond du Lac, WI; grandchildren, Aimee (David Burn) Elandt, Robert (Annilee) Helbing, Thomas (Lisa) Helbing. Caitlin (Greg) Spirko, Kim (fiancé Adam Schoettler) Ahrens, Bethany (Matthew Singewald) Hanke, Alyssa (Michael) Stephens, Ryan Schmid, Sarah (John) Chidester, Eric Ahrens; great-grandchildren, Lexie Elandt, Miles Helbing, Sam Burn, William Stephens, Julian Helbing, Clairees Stephens and Maxton Spirko. She is further survived by her three brothers, Ronald Graff, James Graff, John (Cleo) Graff all of Beaver Dam, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Emil "Pete", two sons in infancy, Ronald and Thomas and a sister-in-law, Ruth Graff.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Delores will be held on Saturday, October 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, 511 S. Spring St. in Beaver Dam with Fr. Mike Erwin as Celebrant. Visitation will also be held on Saturday at the Church beginning at 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at St. Patrick's Catholic Cemetery in Beaver Dam and a luncheon will follow at Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services, 135 Keller Blvd in Beaver Dam.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Joseph's Food Program, 1465A Opportunity Way, Menasha, WI 54952.

Cornerstone Funeral & Cremation Services in Beaver Dam is honored to be serving the family.