Leila Nuel Kennedy Schmidt
Leila Nuel Kennedy Schmidt was born at home in Orange, California on October 13, 2010. She passed away in her sleep at her home in Pearland, Texas on September 6, 2020. Leila contracted meningitis at 3 months old which left her deaf and with special needs; however, she saw no limits to herself or her abilities. She embraced life 150% and ran circles around her entire family. She was pure energy, light, laughter and love. She loved being outside and free. She loved flowers, butterflies, rainbows, moons and stars, trains and red trucks. Magnet toys and mirrors fascinated her, and she loved building towers and playing “squares.” She liked to look at herself in parallel mirrors, reflecting her image into infinity. She made her teacher laugh when she was naming pictures and came to a camera. “Cheese!” she confidently said, pointing at the picture (because that’s what you say when you see a camera). She loved the colors pink and purple. She spent many happy hours watching her favorite shows “Blippi”, “Steve and Maggie”, “Bounce Patrol” and “Mother Goose Club”. Although deaf, Leila wore cochlear implants and loved music and singing along to her songs. She loved to dance with her mama when her parents played the stereo.
She had a big appetite for food as well as life, and loved beans and rice but her favorite was “nonni” (ice cream).
Leila is preceded in death by her grandfathers and fellow music connoisseurs Melvin Ritter and Charles Coach. Her family is sure she is dancing and singing with them and the rest of her angel friends.
She is survived by her parents Karl and Rachel Schmidt, siblings Alexandrea, Catalina, and Maximilian, her grandmothers Carol Ritter and Margaret Coach, paternal grandfather Richard Schmidt, and numerous loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
A visitation will be Thursday, September 24, 2020 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Crowder Funeral Home (2422 E Broadway St, Pearland, TX 77581) in Pearland, with a service to begin at 11 a.m. Interment to follow at South Park Cemetery (1310 N. Main Street, Pearland TX 77581).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Leila Schmidt Memorial Fund at Pearland Little League. She spent many happy hours at the park watching her brother play ball and running on the bleachers. Pearland Little League P.O. Box 1193 Pearland, TX 77588, “http://pearlandlittleleaguestore.square.site/
“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King
“Don’t run, fly” – Leila Schmidt
Our deepest sympathy. We’re sure Leila is “flying with the angels”.
Our hearts are with you. I am taken back by this tragedy. My prayers for peace are with you all. Meeting Leila as well as her family made a lasting impression on us. We were blessed to be able to see them every week for some time because of therapy. And overjoyed to have her at ToneMans 8th birthday party Her! Her always radiant smile gave you no choice but to breathe in her positive energy and smile back. The joy she brought to my sons life in the time they got to spend together couldn’t be matched. These kids have a way of bringing out the best out in eachother. Thank you Leila for bringing joy and light to everyone you met and for sharing it with us. May God bless her and her family.
With love always,
Tony and his mama
My heart is breaking to hear about this tragedy.
My deepest sympathy for your loss.
Praying for healing
Love & Blessing
Always & Forever
I am beside myself with grief. My thoughts keep drifting to how fun she was to have in class. She had boundless energy spinning, laughing, and leaning in for hugs. She was so much fun to be around. I feel blessed to have been her teacher for the past 3 years. She was one in a gazillion. Your family will be part of my chosen family forever!
I am so sorry to hear about Leila. I will miss her positive energy, laughter, and hugs. Praying for you and your family during this difficult time
So heart broken. So many memories of Leila over the years, always running and playing. Wanting nothing more than her mom, dad, Max, Alex or Catalina to play with her. Giggling in the church during a boy scout COH while Karl or Rachel tried to keep her sitting, playing in the room while we had a girl scout meeting, or trying to run and see Galveston Bay when we picked up the girls from a Mariner weekend. If only we could all have a little bit of Leila’s spirit, enthusiasm, and love for life. She will live on in our memories and hearts. As we watch her siblings grow, may they each take a piece of her with them to soar into the world.
Rachel, Karl, Max, Alex and Catalina my heart sank the day I heard of Leila’s passing. My deepest condolences for your family. I would like to leave you this quote by Ellen Brenneman – “We can’t know why the lily has so brief a time to bloom in the warmth of sunlight’s kiss upon its face before it folds into its fragrance and bids the world a good night to rest its beauty in a gentler place. But we can know that nothing that is loved is ever lost and no one who has touched a heart can really pass away because some beauty lingers on in each memory of which they’ve been a part.”
Prayers and condolences to the Schmidt Family. Leila has a great life with you. She was obviously so loved and cherished. I know you are hurting. Praying.