Ruth Ann (nee Yane) Schneider, age 83, was called to God on Sept. 25, 2023, at her home in Chardon.
Ruth was born Dec. 2, 1939, to Louis and Edith (nee Fyffe) Yane, who raised their family in Euclid. She graduated from Euclid High School, class of 1958, after which she attended Asbury College in Kentucky before going to work for the Cleveland Press.
In 1961, while working at the Press, she met and married Ray Schneider. Together, they built their family and shared 61 years of marriage.
As a steadfast Christian, Ruth’s faith guided her throughout life. She found fellowship at her childhood church, Nottingham United Methodist, and later at Chardon United Methodist Church.
Throughout her life, she devoted time to the church in many capacities, including teaching Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, writing and sharing sermons, singing in the adult choir and directing the children’s choir, and participating in Bible study and committee work, among other roles.
Ruth also impacted the community at large. She was an avid disability activist at a time when such terms did not exist, successfully pushing for schools to provide specialized classroom instruction for children with disabilities.
In every sense, Ruth was a true matriarch. As the first of the six children born to Lou and Edith, she was a caring pillar who always offered love and support to her siblings and their families.
Music was a foundational part of her person. As a child, she learned hymns from her grandmother at Nottingham. Later, she was moved by her father’s love of Barbershop singing and her brother Jim’s love of Gospel. These influences informed her love of Praise music. She understood music to be an expression of gratitude and a way to celebrate the love, encouragement, strength and comfort she found in her journey with Christ.
Ruth’s love touched countless lives, and it continues to live on in her memory and legacy.
Ruth was preceded in death by her infant son Richard; sister-in-law Carole Yane; and brother-in-law, Dale Frechette.
She is survived by her husband, Raymond Schneider; children Ronald, Robert (Patti) and Stephanie Yeaglin; grandchildren, Abigail Dring, Katrina Schneider, Cory (Lauren) Rusinek, Brady Rusinek, Benjamin Yeary, Sarah Yeary (Romeo Lugo) and Molly Yeaglin; great-grandchildren, Chandler Rusinek, Richard Lugo and Vaelyn Rusinek; and siblings, Jack Yane, Kathy Hartman, Jim (Cathy) Yane, Laura Frechette and Margot (Dave) Meharg.
The family invites you to join them for a memorial service to celebrate Ruth’s life and legacy. The service will be held at Chardon United Methodist Church on Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at 11 a.m. Flowers can be sent to the church Oct. 13 before 5 p.m.
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