Pearl Schneider, 84

Marlborough - Pearl (Wigren) Schneider, 84, died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007 in Marlborough at Hearthstone Alzheimer's Care at New Horizons.

She leaves her daughter, Gayleen Donadt and her husband, Bruce; her son, Marlon Taylor and his husband, Les; her brother, Donald Wigren; four grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.

Born in Plainfield, the daughter of Sven and Tyne (Alanen) Wigren, she graduated from Plainfield High School in 1941. She attended the Hartford Hospital School of Nursing and graduated from the New York Institute of Dietetics in 1945.

The following year, Mrs. Schneider ventured to Santa Monica, Calif., where she spent a year working for Douglas Aircraft and studying dance. She returned to Plainfield in the fall of 1947 to assist her parents, and soon landed a job as home economist for the Connecticut Light and Power Company, a position she greatly enjoyed and held for eight years.

On April 8, 1954, she married Dr. Herbert H. Schneider, an optometrist, in Norwich. They made their home in Danielson, raising two children, and she remained in that town for the next 38 years. In 1992, she relocated to West Palm Beach, Fla., before returning to New England two and a half years ago.

Mrs. Schneider was a lifelong lover of music. She sang with the Windham County Choral Society for eight years and belonged to the Ruffle and Bob's Square Dance Club for 10 years. She also enjoyed sailing, canoeing and snow skiing for many years.

She was very proud of her Finnish heritage and was a charter member of the Finnish American Heritage Society. She was fortunate to visit Finland three times: the first for eight months when she was a small child with her parents; the second with her husband in the mid-1970s; and the last time just five years ago with her son.

A memorial service will be held at First Parish Church, 24 River St., Norwell, on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 11 a.m. A reception will follow. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472 or the National Humane Society, 40 E. Main St., #364-I, Newark, DE 19711.