Joel Schnitter

Joel Schnitter

March 06, 1934 - August 06, 2015

Joel Schnitter

March 06, 1934 - August 06, 2015

Obituary

Joel L. Schnitter, 81, of Mission Viejo died peacefully on August 6, 2015. He was born in New York City on March 6, 1934 to Otto and Estelle Rafelson Schnitter. He leaves his beloved wife, Elaine, his four children, Gregory, Alison and Claudia Schnitter and Adrienne Bridges, his four step-children, Edward Pahler and his wife Lori, Elizaeth Zornek and her husband Vince, Stephanie Wernet and her husband George and Alyson Pahler. He is also survived by eleven grandchildren, Emily and John Bridges, Ashley, Sean and Shannon Pahler, Clare Wernet, Andrew and Matthew Zornek, Jaden Jeckel, Nicolas and Christopher Pipinakis and one great-grandchild, Nicolas Taylor Tarantino II.

Joel was predeceased by his parents and his sister Marilyn D’Alessandro. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and his sister-in-law Mary Ann Connors and her husband Maury.

Joel’s death was caused by the effects of Lewy Body Dementia which had stricken him four years ago.

Joel grew up in the Bronx and Mt. Vernon, New York, graduated from Westchester College in Valhalla, New York and served in the US Navy during the Korean War. He worked for Hess Oil, the Hertz Corporation and Chemical Bank in New York before relocating to Orange County to work for Taco Bell in 1982. He ended his career as a Conroy’s Flower Shop franchise owner. He and Elaine traveled extensively and enjoyed skiing, golf, good times with friends and, of course, lots and lots of fun adventures with their grandchildren.

A Funeral Service and Reception will be held at O’Connor Mortuary, 25301 Alicia Pky, Laguna Hills, CA on Sunday, August 16, 2015 at 1 pm.

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3 responses to Joel Schnitter

  1. Pat Mistove says:

    We went to California to finalize plans for St. Peter’s Class of ’57’s 50th reunion. During that visit Joel was immediately transformed to our dear friend. We connected right away, and by the time we left it was like we had known each other forever. With his charm and wit how could you not like Joel. Working on the reunion cemented the connection. After that, on the too infrequent occasions when we saw each other, it was like we were never apart. We would kid each other about one of us living on the wrong coast. He was the old friend we had only just met.

    We lost Joel twice – once to dementia and again when we heard of his passing. Unless you are a da Vinci or Einstein, there comes a time when you pass from being a flesh and blood person to an unknown someone in a square on a family tree. No one remembers your personality or sense of humor. As long as we’re around, that won’t happen to Joel.

    Pat Mistove and Dick Pluta

  2. I just remember Joel as the quite man helping us all at our 50th reunion. For that special memory I am thankful. Rest in peace Joel.

    Elaine, we will pray for you all this week.

    Bill Connolly

  3. Someone once said that we all die 3 times. The first time our body dies, the second time we are buried and the third time is when people stop remembering us. Knowing that Joel was loved by so many especially his large family and friends its good to know that he will be remembered forever. For me, he was first my Taco Bell client where we got to spend time working and laughing together. A few years later he hired me again to do Conroy’s Flowers. Once that was done we were dear friends and kept communicating over many years. In fact Elaine and Joel even came to our wedding in 1999.

    During my 50 year long career working with hundreds of clients Joel was the only one who I am proud to say became my friend which meant more to me than anything.

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