Luanne Schneider Lake “Yaya”, 81, of Indianapolis, passed away on April 4, 2019. She was born on March 9, 1938 in Indianapolis to Dr. Carl and Pauline Schneider.
Luanne graduated from Howe High School in 1956 and IU School of Nursing in 1960. She worked as an RN in the Newborn Nursery at Community East. She married her college sweetheart in 1960 and had two children, Keith & Linda.
In 1976 Luanne moved with her family to Madeira Beach, FL, where she worked as an RN at Bayfront Medical Center for several years as well as in home health care, nursing homes and hospice care.
While in Florida, she loved living on the water and enjoyed fishing, boating, lobster diving, water skiing and scuba diving. She volunteered at Clearwater Marine Science Center, now known as Clearwater Marine Aquarium for several years. Her favorite activity there was educating others on sea life & spending time with Sunset Sam, their rescued dolphin. She was an assistant softball coach & meticulous scorekeeper for many years at Gulf Beaches Little League. Luanne loved all kids and animals, especially if they were in need. Through the years, she rescued numerous animals and children without ever skipping a beat.
Luanne moved back to Indianapolis in 1989. She returned to Community Hospitals, this time as a Psych Nurse, specializing in pre-adolescent youth. In her free time, she enjoyed gardening, playing piano/organ, golfing at Indian Lake Golf Club & bowling at Hindle and Woodland Lanes. She also enjoyed painting, knitting and writing poetry.
The highlight and delight of her life were her grandchildren. She earned the name of Yaya from her first grandson and it stuck. After that, most people (kids and adults alike) knew her only by that name. She attended every sporting event, band concert, theater production, school function and everything in between. Her grandchildren were her absolute pride & joy.
Several years ago, Luanne was diagnosed with dementia. It was a difficult & unforgiving disease for her. She fought hard, but unfortunately, dementia eventuality won. We would like to deeply thank the amazing staff in the Cherished Memories unit at Harbour Manor, especially Jessica & Morgan, who loved her like one of their own. We would also like to thank Transitions Hospice who helped us through the difficult final weeks.
Luanne was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Karl and Thom Schneider; and her husband, Richard. She is survived by her children, Keith (Cathy Sferrazza) Lake and Linda (Rusty) Sullivan; and 7 grandchildren, Justin (Meghan) Sebring, Benjamin Sebring, Lauren (Damon) Sebring, Kaiden Sullivan, Addison Sullivan, Eric (Laura) Sullivan, and Conner Sullivan.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made online at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Please specify “Animal Care” when making a donation.
Jean and Ivan Willenberg says
Our family. We have so many wonderful memories over the years. Luanne’s mother and my mother were pregnant with us at the same time so many years ago. Our families were friends. Her father was our family doctor. We vacationed together. We fished. We water skied, partied together. Later we married and both had daughters who were friends with each other. Linda is my “second daughter”. So many good times. Some funny. Some sorrows were shared together. She was always there for me. I hope I was always there for her. Luanne was the “little mother” to her brother Thom. Later she was a caring nurse with the babies in the hospital. Later still, she loved and cared for her own. In recent years, she was blessed with 7 grandchildren whom she continued to love. She was a treasure to us and we will miss her presence with us now. These precious memories we will treasure forever.
Kay Adams says
Luanne was a nursing classmate and friend. we double dated with Luanne and Dick many times. So sorry to hear of her death.
Kay Witham Hartman Adams
Sharon Albert says
Luanne and I shared many stories and laughs while attending our granddaughters softball games. She will remain in the hearts of all of us as we enjoy our memories of her.
Midge Werts says
I worked with Louanne at Community Hospital on the pre-adolescent psychiatric unit. She was very efficient and great person to work with. Her sense of humor was delightful. My sympathy to her family.
Paulee Day says
I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you always. Paulee
Mike Dickinson says
What a full and beautiful life! So very sorry for your loss, Cap. Always available if you ever need anything.
Kathleen Halleck says
On behalf of the Central Indiana Nursing Honor Guard, we’d like to send our condolences to Luanne’s family. Luanne sounded like a wonderful person and her life sounded amazing. We would especially like to honor her for her many years as a nurse. As with most nurses, I am sure her life as a nurse was a part of her life in everything she did. Nursing is a calling … a way of life. I am sure her children could tell some stories. Thank you Luanne for your years of service as a nurse.
Sharon Smith Edwards says
Dear Linda,
Your mother was a good friend from our nursing class and we attended nursing reunions together. I always let her know when I was coming up to Indy from Texas and we would plan to have lunch together and sometimes I spent the night with her. We both had the same sense of humor and we enjoyed laughing ourselves silly, going to Brown County shopping and reading all the crazy cards in the card shops, visiting the med center where we trained, walking through the River Walk downtown which had been a slum area when we were in nurse’s training but now was lined with art museums and restaurants.
I am so sorry to hear about her dementia and I know what a trial that must have been for you. She always had a lot to tell me about you and I know she was proud of both her children. I will miss her.
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