Edie Schiele would beam with pride over each one of her six children. “Aren’t they wonderful?” she would say with a broad smile and a twinkle in her eyes. Indeed, her children gave her immense happiness in her long, joy-filled life.
Edith Laura Baer Schiele, age 97, died peacefully on June 4, 2025, at her home in Cambridge, N.Y., with two of her six children and a dear friend by her side.
Edie was born on February 10, 1928, in Boston, Mass., to Harold Meyer Baer and Agnes Friedman Baer. Agnes was an artist and silversmith, and Edie inherited her mother’s creative sensibilities. Early in her childhood, the family moved to St. Louis, Mo., where Edie grew up around the corner from Herbert S. Schiele, Jr. Edie and Herb married in 1949, shortly after her graduation from Wellesley College, a union that endured until Herb’s death in 2000.
The family that would become the pride of Edie’s long life soon got underway with two sons born in St. Louis, and a daughter born in Oakland Calif., where Herb was completing his military service as a medical doctor. In 1955, the growing family moved cross-country and settled in Philadelphia, Pa., near to family. There, Edie devoted her time to her family (a third son was born shortly after they arrived) and her many flower and vegetable gardens. She was an accomplished craftsperson who directed her creative instincts into needlepoint (cushions and seat covers), weaving (including a sport coat for Herb), sewing (an array of dolls in historically accurate clothing that were displayed in a local storefront), and knitting (sweaters for everyone). Starting with a first edition copy of “The Joy of Cooking” and a subscription to Gourmet Magazine, Edie mastered the art of preparing meals that were creative and delicious. She was passionate about music, from Bach to folk, and conveyed this love to her children, two of whom became musicians..
During the 1960s, the family expanded with a fourth son, a second daughter, and a Corgi named Lucy. With the kids attending Germantown Friends School both Edie and Herb found a welcoming community at the Germantown Friends (Quaker) Meeting, attending regularly and ultimately joining as full members of the meeting. This community nourished Edie’s long dedication to social issues and the environment, values that she modeled for her children and championed throughout her life.
In the mid-1960s, Edie and Herb bought an abandoned farm house in East Barnard, Vt., which became the family’s summer, and sometimes winter, retreat (also an opportunity for Edie to plant more gardens). Then, after the last child had graduated from high school, Edie and Herb moved full time to Vermont and to the life of gardening, nature, and the community they had built there over twenty years. Following Herb’s death in late 2000, Edie moved to Cambridge, N.Y., where fourth son Edwin had settled. Even as she was starting a new life at the age of 72, Edie quickly put down roots, bonding with those who came into her orbit. Edie grew a devoted group of friends who will miss her generosity and spirit.
Edie is survived by her sister Jean O’Gorman of Santa Fe, N.M.; her children Tom Schiele (Kit) of Jaffrey, N.H., Ted Schiele of West Groton, N.Y., Maggie Sullivan (Dave) of Brattleboro, Vt., Jonathan Schiele (Christina Nypaver) of Richmond, Calif., Edwin Schiele (Debby Jaffe) of Cambridge, N.Y., Kate Duffield (Michael) of Boxford, Mass.; eleven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Herbert, her two brothers, Thomas and Edward, and daughter-in-law Christine Griffin. A private celebration of life is planned.
Those wishing to honor Edie’s memory may make contributions in her name to Comfort Food Community, PO Box 86, Greenwich, NY 12834 (comfortfoodcommunity.org), the Cambridge Food Pantry, PO Box 473, Cambridge, NY 12816 (cambridgefoodpantry.com), and Hubbard Hall Center for the Arts and Education, 25 E. Main St., Cambridge, NY 12816 (hubbardhall.org)
