Un-Sentenced For Life: Video of Dr. Arthur Schneider's Memorial Service

My wonderful father, my Daddy, Dr. Arthur Schneider, passed away on Monday, December 13, 2021. A Zoom memorial, hosted by Temple Israel Long Beach, California, was held on Wednesday, December 22, 2021. Below is the service. It was a beautiful service, and I hope those who could not attend can enjoy it now. And...those who attended, I think you will enjoy seeing this again.

Click on the video below to watch the entire Zoom memorial:

As Jewish tradition keeps someone alive in your heart if they are remembered, this service and tribute to my dad did just that!

The speakers at the memorial included:

Jo Ann Schneider Farris (oldest daughter)
Marion Ennis Curtis (Jo Ann’s lifelong friend)
Dr. Kimiko Suzue (my dad’s colleague at the Chicago Medical School)
Lyman Davis, P.H.D pharmacist and close family friend
Dr. Rhonda Gordon (Jo Ann’s close friend and someone who helped take care of Jo Ann’s dad)
Dan Farris (Jo Ann’s husband)
Joel Farris (Dan and Jo Ann’s son)
Rebekah Farris (Dan and Jo Ann’s daughter)
Drew Sainte Marie (Jo Ann’s sister Lynnellen’s oldest son, Grandpa’s oldest grandchild)
Cori Sainte Marie (Jo Ann’s sister Lynnellen’s only daughter, Grandpa’s oldest grand-daughter)
William “Billy” Schneider (Jo Ann’s brother, Arthur’s only son)

To summarize the service:

After Rabbi Scott Fox and Cantor Kelly Cooper led us in traditional prayers and song:

Jo Ann shared photos and told the story of her Daddy’s life.

Marion just shared what it was like to be Jo Ann’s friend and what it was like to see how wonderful Jo Ann’s Daddy was. (Jo Ann meant to show a photo of her father with Marion, but forgot, so her is a photo of them together. My dad was so delighted with her husband’s private small plane!)

Dr. Kimiko Suzue shared all of Dr. Arthur’s Schneider’s amazing professional accomplishments.

Lyman Davis, shared what an amazing man Art Schneider was.

Dr. Rhonda Gordon talked about how kind a man Jo Ann’s father was.

Dan Farris shared how great a father in law “Dad” was and how much they enjoyed one another’s company.

Joel Farris shared how much his grandpa impacted his life.

Rebekah Farris said the same thing Joel did and also sang “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” for us.

Drew Sainte Marie explained how he got to know things about his grandfather that no one else knew.

Cori Sainte Marie shared how wonderful a Grandpa she had and how much she missed him.

Billy Schneider shared about how much he appreciated his father and how special a man he was.

The service ended with the traditional Mourner’s Kaddish.

After the conclusion of the service, anyone could stay afterwards to share and talk about my dad. It was like a Zoom Shiva. We talked until the power was about to go out on Jo Ann’s iPad!

This memorial was so wonderful and memorable. Thank you, Temple Israel, Rabbi Fox, and Cantor Cooper for making this happen. May my father’s memory be a blessing.