Stephanie Layton Schwarze

Pawling, NY - Stephanie Layton Schwarze, 34, passed away suddenly on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at home.

In her typical way of serving others she kept her suffering and disease process hidden from family and friends, to protect them from suffering.

She was born in Sharon, CT on June 16, 1976 the daughter of James and Jane H. Layton. Stephanie was well known for her hard work and her desire to succeed. She unselfishly helped many people in her lifetime as a good person, as a nurse and as a yoga instructor.

She graduated from Stissing Mountain High School and Dutchess County BOCES as a LPN in June of 1994. In 1997 she graduated from Columbia Greene Community College with Honors. Stephanie then went on to Hartwick on an Academic Scholarship. She studied Nursing and Liberal Arts and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree.

She practiced nursing as a hospital nurse, school nurse, a camp nurse, home health care nurse and a nursing educator. She strived to teach others that the profession of nursing was noble, difficult, and interesting. She also tried to bring a smile to the face of everyone she came into contact with.

Later in life, she decided to augment her nursing career by becoming a yoga instructor, hoping to bring a more holistic lifestyle to those she knew and taught.

In addition to her kind and generous parents, James "Mott" and Jane Layton of Boynton Beach, FL; survivors include her husband and closest friend, Timothy Schwarze of Pawling, NY; her two beautiful loving sisters, Sonya Bradley of White Sulphur Springs, NY; Sarah Layton of Plattsburgh, NY.

Calling hours are 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm on Monday, April 25, 2011 at the Peck & Peck Funeral Home, 7749 South Main St. Pine Plains.

A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Tuesday, April 26, at the First Presbyterian Church in Pine Plains with Rev. Carol Miller officiating.

Burial will be at the convenience of the family.

Stephanie wishes to thank all the people in this tiny world who helped her. She also wishes to convey that no small good deed from one human being to another is ever overlooked.

A memorial scholarship will be set up at the Stissing Mountain High School 2829 Church St. Pine Plains, NY 12567 for young adults wishing to continue their studies in health and human services.

---