Obituary of Sigrid Steuer Schatvet

Sigrid Steuer Schatvet, 76, died at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT, on August 10. Sigrid was born on April 2, 1944 in Marienbad, Czech Republic. At this time in World War II, the family had been evacuated from their home of Berlin. Post-war, she lived in various parts of Germany and attended school, which she loved, in Wuppertal and Hamburg. Throughout Sigrid’s life, she visited Berlin and was in close touch with family and friends in the city she always considered home. Fascinated with travel and foreign countries, Sigrid’s dream was to become a flight attendant and see the world. She planned to spend a year in the USA to improve her English before applying. Although she had never flown, in 1963, at age 19, she left Germany for the States with $24 in her pocket. Sigrid was an au pair in Baltimore and then on Long Island, New York. Shortly after, she was accepted to train as a flight attendant with TWA. She loved flying and realizing her dream of exploring the world. Although she left TWA when her first child was born, she continued to occasionally fly for private companies. She was able to continue her passion for travel when she worked as a travel agent and, many years later, for USAirways, where she managed the gate to Frankfurt with the aplomb and professionalism of a flight attendant from an earlier era. Most recently, she was an Assistant Teacher at Cornerstone Child Development Center, which was recommended to people because of “the nice German lady there.” Sigrid valued education as highly as she regarded travel. Her boxed-set Oxford American Dictionary was one of her most prized possessions (her daughters often had to look up words from their mother’s vocabulary). Earning her Associate Degree as an adult from Norwalk Community College, Summa Cum Laude and with a Regents’ Medallion for Academic Excellence, was one of her proudest achievements. A longtime resident of Darien, Connecticut, she was a devoted member of Noroton Presbyterian Church, serving as a Deacon and a Stephen Minister. She loved attending womens’ retreats and early morning Bible Study. A lover of music, she directed the children’s choir when her children were young, and one of her favorite things every Christmas season was singing in Darien’s performance of Handel’s Messiah. Having grown up facing many post-war hardships, Sigrid had a very strong social conscience, which she passed along to her children. She brought her daughters when she delivered church flowers to senior centers and as she worked to settle refugee families. She cared for two foster sons when their families needed help. Sigrid hired au pairs from Europe for her family, so young women could enjoy the experiences she had. Throughout her adult life, she sponsored several children living in poverty via Compassion International. Sigrid took pride and joy in her daughters (and, later, her grandchildren), whose activities and interests she always supported. The Schatvet home was always bustling with friends and frequent visitors from overseas. Sigrid is survived by her three loving daughters: Tracey Adams (Josh) of Charlotte, NC, Sandy Henry (Scott) of Fairfield, CT, and Lillan Lofaro (Aaron) of Stamford, CT. She will be forever cherished by her grandchildren: Abigail, Jessie, Boone, Tucker, Tilley, Andrew, and Ella. She is also survived by her brother Winfried Steuer (Marita) of Stelle, Germany, nephew Arne Steuer of Bonn, Germany and a cousin in Berlin. A memorial service will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to <a href="http://www.compassion.com" target="_blank">Compassion International</a>.