Obituary of Georgia Ann Schneider

Georgia Ann Ferguson Schneider, born October 1, 1940 in Molalla, Oregon, passed away on November 20, 2022 in Syracuse, New York.  Georgia grew up on the family farm in Molalla, Oregon, where she spent her summers picking berries and helping on the farm. While in high school, she was named Betty Crocker Homemaker of the Year for the state of Oregon and was awarded a trip to New York City.  Georgia received a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in Salem, OR and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from Oberlin College in Oberlin, OH.  She worked for several years as a high school teacher and then met her future husband, Gerd K. Schneider, at a summer program for language teachers at Princeton University in Princeton, NJ.  Georgia and Gerd were married in Oregon in August 1967.  They settled in Syracuse, NY, and Georgia returned to school and received a Master of Arts in Linguistics and then a PhD in Germanic studies from Syracuse University. She taught German and English as a Second Language at Onondaga Community College (OCC) for 36 years. Georgia served as the head of the Department of Foreign Languages at OCC before retiring in 2003. Upon retiring, she received an Exemplary Service Award from the OCC Board of Trustees.  Georgia was interested in gardening and travel.  She was active in a neighborhood wine group, a book group with her OCC colleagues, and volunteering to bring food donations to a local food pantry through her membership in the Unitarian Universalist Society.  Georgia was an excellent cook and baker, and her loved ones have appreciated the many wonderful meals she made for them over the years.  Georgia is pre-deceased by her parents, George and Rhoda Anne Ferguson. She is survived by her loving husband of 55 years, Gerd Schneider, her son Michael Schneider (Dana Buske) and grandchildren Benjamin and Clara of Arlington, MA; her brother Larry Ferguson (Beverly) of Silverton, OR; her sister Darlene Austin of Canby, OR; and other extended family in Oregon. Contributions in her memory may be made to Literacy CNY On Point for College or the Food Bank of Central New York.  
Calling hours will be Sunday, November 27, 2022 from 2-4 p.m. at Goddard-Crandall-Shepardson Funeral Home, Inc. 3111 James Street, Syracuse, NY 13206.  Following the calling hours, friends and family are invited to stay for a memorial service where people are invited to share memories about Georgia.