Obituary
Delila (Lila) Anita Hawley, (86) of Oviedo, Fl., passed peacefully into the loving presence of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Friday, May 6, 2022. She was preceded from this earthly life and now reunited with her youngest son, Jody Schmitt, mother & father Hattie and Elmer Schumacher, older brother Ewald & sister Veronica. In her departure, she leaves behind her loving husband of 40 years, Henry (Hank) Hawley, (94) of Oviedo, Fl., her sisters, Arlene, Geri, Janie, RoxAnne, Gail, her brothers, Richard, Ken, Dale, her two sons and daughters-in-law, Mark & Karen Schmitt, Winter Springs, Fl., Barney & Diane Schmitt, Longwood, Fl., step-daughter & her husband Nancy & Don Mathews of Orlando, Fl.
Lila was a devoted and doting grandmother to eight blessed grandchildren, Garret, Cary, Kaylee, Erin, Chris, Sherry, Evan & Ryan. Lila’s blessings continued with fifteen great-grandchildren. As the third oldest of eleven children, Lila’s love of family never waned and fondest memories remain of her tireless efforts of nurturing, comforting, and sharing with family and friends, with all that her kitchen, home, and her talents could provide.
Lila was born as Delila Anita Schumacher, into her farming family near Mitchell, SD., and living family life later in Deadwood, SD., where at fifteen, she served as a Sunday School teacher. At sixteen, she met & married her first husband, Allen Schmitt, USAF, of Maynard, IA. in Rapid City, SD., where starting from age seventeen, she gave birth to her three boys, Mark, Barney, & Jody. Military life provided future residence in Puerto Rico, Massachusetts, and Florida. Throughout, as family financial needs arose, she learned to juggle the tasks of raising three active boys, and working jobs at or away from home. Eventually, the US Postal Service became her career job from which she retired. During that time, she rose from the bottom distribution levels to being a switchboard operator, the personal secretary to the Orlando Postmaster, a division director, and, most importantly, meeting, working with, and eventually marrying her second husband, Hank. With Hank as her loving encourager, Lila blossomed further, becoming a leader in Toastmasters International, working as a Durrance Elementary School teacher’s assistant for children with special needs, volunteering as a receptionist at Luther Haven Retirement Community, creating many treasured canvas paintings (some depicting her early farm life), serving countless gifts of her time, her baking and candy-making skills, and the hosting of many memorable family & friends gatherings.
Missed by all that came near Lila will be her humor, wit, modesty, and humility. The most fortunate of us got to call her Wife, Mom, and Grandma (Nana). Truly, we were all blessed by her presence, and will trust in the assurance of the eternal family reunion yet to come.
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