Dolores Mae Schnider

Dolores M Schnider (Abraham) born on the family farm in Minnesota, May 8, 1925 to Albert and Hannah Abraham, the youngest of 11 children, she joined her brothers and sisters, Art, Ruben , Clarence, Howard, Harold, Albert (Al), Donald, Violet, Esther and surviving sister Stella. After the death of her mother Hannah, Dolores at the young age of 9, her father and youngest brothers made a trek across country to Seaview Washington where they would join forces with Albert’s 2 brothers Raymond Abraham and Herman and Ellen Abraham. Ellen and Herman opened their arms and hearts taking Dolores in as their own to raise at the age of 11. Dolores continued to thrive with Herman and Ellen going to school and graduating from Ilwaco High School in 1943. She was active in sports and school actives throughout her high school years, making lifelong friends within the small community, returning many times for class reunions. During his Coast Guard enlistment James Schnider was stationed at Cape Disappointment Ilwaco Washington where he and Dolores met, fell in love and married October 30, 1944. Jim was transferred to Port Angeles Washington where Dolores joined him taking a job with Western Union. After Jim’s discharge the couple moved to the Schnider family farm in the Mount Angel/Salem area, joining his parents Joseph and Barbara Schnider working the land. In 1948 the couple was blessed with their first daughter Paula and then in 1951 their second daughter Diane. Within a few years of Diane’s birth the family struck out on their own, leaving the family farm and moving into Portland, where Jim went to journeyman school to become a welder. During the first growing years of the family, Dolores was a gifted homemaker and mother, with exceptional sewing skills to help provide for the family. In the late 1050’s the family took on a new adventure and purchased a neighborhood theater, the Avalon in Portland. Where Jim and Dolores built a good but small business, but prospering more in building lifelong friends, support from the community and the many youth that were employed by the family business. Dolores’s love for dancing brought about memberships in the Eagles and Elks Lodge in Portland. During those years they also enjoyed entertaining and traveling, with all the friends they made from their continued commitment to the lodges. Paula has one daughter Jennifer Smith (Fandry) and Diane has two sons Ryan Sparks and Clint Sparks, Dolores was actively involved with all the grandchildren’s lives from caring for them, sewing outfits, to attending school functions and sporting events. Her special travel events in the 80’s were several trips to Alaska, where Paula resided. Her passion for travel continued on after the passing of Jim in 1995, when she took the cruise of her dreams through the Panama Canal and back. The blazers games where a must for Dolores, whether it was tickets to the game, on TV or listening to the radio, you could hear her cheering the team on from anywhere in the house. Over the years she was an avid volunteer helping with the Gresham, Hermiston and Oregon City Chamber of Commerce where daughter Diane worked. Dolores made a full circle in life, returning to the Mount Angel area where she passed, July 25, 2013. She leaves behind daughters Paula Smith and Diane Sparks, granddaughter Jennifer Smith Fandry, grandsons Ryan Sparks and Clint Sparks, great-grandchildren Morgan and Mia Fandry, Johnathon, Kobe and Kash Sparks, along with 5 step grandchildren, Chelsea, Jazzlyn, Noah, Sophie and Gabe. This may be a bit long but we the family of Dolores wanted anyone to know that we needed to tell the story of our Mom, Grandma and Great grandma’s life. We love you Mom and we celebrate all that you did and all that you brought to our lives. May you be blessed for eternity. Service Information