Carol Brenda Schmidt, born July 5, 1935, passed away May 19, 2022, in Aliso Viejo.

Her moniker to her friends was CBS, and Carol always said it with a chuckle.  She was

born to Leo and Helen Smith in Welch, West Virginia.  Carol had two sisters;  Nancy

Waugh and Sally Smith (deceased); two nieces; Cathy Waugh and Brenda Waugh; and

a step daughter, Cathy Bradley.  Carol was married to Bill Schmidt and later in life to

Jim Panteleo, both of whom are deceased.

Carol received her BA at Concord College in Athens, West Virginia.  She earned her MA

in Orange, California at Chapman College on April 1, 1967.  Carol began her career as a

teacher in the Buena Park School District.  For the next 28 years Carol would serve the

boys and girls of Buena Park, mentor countless of her colleagues, and befriend many people

that she met all with her perfect style and grace.  She taught 4th, 5th, and 6th grade at Whitaker

and Emery Elementary Schools.  She retired from Buena Park Junior High School in 1995

where she taught 7th and 8th grade core classes of English and History.  Carol loved her

students, and she enjoyed teaching so much she seldom missed a day.  Even after tripping

over a student's backpack and breaking her arm, she was back at school the next day - casted

up, but a bit more carefully walking up and down the aisles as she surveyed students' work.

Carol loved a good party, and entertaining her colleagues was also at the top of her favorites

list.  Those fortunate recipients appreciated Carol's generosity in her elegant but cozy homes.

Whether it was a condo in Huntington Beach, her home in Laguna Woods, or the Covington

Retirement Community, beautiful paintings adorned the walls with artful touches everywhere.

Carol was a true Southern belle!

Carol also loved travel, golf, and she was a voracious reader.  When time permitted, she

volunteered at Saddleback Hospital and also made generous contributions.  Carol had the

memory of an elephant.  She could recount years later what a teacher was wearing at a

certain event from head to toe!  Her memory came in handy when we worked on after school

committees.  We always knew Carol could practically repeat verbatim what had been said

and accomplished in previous meetings thus cutting down testing our own memories!

One of Carol's closest friends was mentored by Carol as a new 4th grade

teacher at Whitaker School. This friend has summed up her lifelong mentorship and friendship

with this beloved woman in two charming lists.  Carol would have loved these lists,

as impeccable teacher organization was a hallmark of her career.

Here are five things I know about Carol:

1. She wouldn't eat orange food.
2. She never scribbled. Her handwriting was always neat.  Always!!
3. She knew how to sail a boat.
4. She used to be a page for a Virginia congressman, and was tasked with opening constituents'

letters and putting them in either the FOR or AGAINST pile.

5. She had a German Shepard that successfully pulled a jogger's pants down.

Here are six things I learned from Carol:

1. If you'll cheat on little things, you'll cheat on big things.
2. Do it right, or don't do it.
3. Get the naughty kids to love you so they'll be good.
4. Don't yell because you can never get louder.
5. Revenge is not sweet.
6. Dress to match your interior decor.  You'll always look lovely in your home.

There will be a celebration of Carol's life on June 4, 2022 at 2:00 P.M.

The Covington Pavilion

3 Pursuit

Aliso Viejo

Proof of Covid Vaccination status required.