BIOGRAPHY

Schneider was born as Elsa Matilda Friederich in Brooklyn, New York, on 7 August 1900. She grew up in Verona, New Jersey, and following her mother’s death at an early age, she, along with her sister, was sent to live with relatives in Germany.

Upon her father’s second marriage, Schneider and her sister returned to Verona. She completed grammar school and worked as a telephone operator, the only job she would hold throughout her life. In 1926, she married Christian F. Schneider in Verona, and they had two children, Christian and Elsa Jr. Her daughter predeceased her, as did one of her granddaughters.

Schneider lived with her family in Essex Falls, New Jersey for many years; in her later years, she moved into a residential care facility in West Orange, New Jersey.

Schneider died in West Orange on 24 January 2011 at the age of 110 years, 170 days. She was survived by her son Christian Schneider II, as well as five grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

RECOGNITION

At the time of her death, Schneider was New Jersey’s second-oldest resident after Ruth Hale, less than a month her senior.

Schneider’s age was verified by Stefan Maglov and Jimmy Lindberg, and was validated by LongeviQuest on 19 April 2024.

ATTRIBUTION

GALLERY