Charlotte L. Schwartz

Charlotte L. Schwartz

Charlotte L. Schwartz, 87, of Rockland Township, passed away on Saturday, May 9, 2026, at Laureldale Nursing and Rehabilitation. She was the wife of the late Gerald T. Schwartz, who passed away in 2019.

Born in Reading, Charlotte was the daughter of the late Franklin Esterly and Florence (Knorr) Esterly.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her son, Scott Michael Harford; her parents, Franklin and Florence Esterly; and her siblings: Marvin, Danny, June, Emily, Nancy, Betty, Frank, Jack, Florence, Donald, Jim, Bill, Pete, Bob, Carl, Mayme, Helen and great grandson Jaxon.

Charlotte was one of 20 children and the last surviving sibling, part of a remarkable generation of brothers and sisters who helped shape her life and family story.

Charlotte found happiness in life's simple pleasures and lived a full life centered around family, creativity, music, dancing, and community. She had a lifelong love of arts and crafts, including painting, quilting, making beaded jewelry, sewing, and knitting. Her creativity showed not only in the things she made, but in the way she shared those gifts with the people around her.

Country line dancing was also a meaningful part of Charlotte's life, especially with her late husband, Gerald. Together, they found joy in dancing, music, and community. Charlotte later shared that joy with others by teaching country line dancing at senior centers, where she brought energy, laughter, and connection to those around her.

Charlotte also had a gift for bringing joy into a room. She loved singing, yodeling, and karaoke, and she was known to steal the show at open mics, karaoke nights, and wedding receptions. She hosted karaoke at nursing homes and enjoyed singing with the many friends she made through karaoke. She sang to her children, taught her grandchildren to sing, and inspired a love of music that will continue through generations.

Charlotte never met a stranger. Throughout her life, and even in her final days, she had a way of making friends wherever she went. She was loving, outgoing, creative, and wonderfully ornery, with a magnetic spirit that drew people in.

She loved cooking and baking for others and showed her love by making sure the people around her were fed and cared for. She also enjoyed camping and cherished time spent with her family and friends, especially when gathered around the table or sharing simple moments together. Charlotte will be remembered for her warmth, creativity, sense of fun, music, dancing, and the love she poured into the people around her.

She also deeply loved her many nieces and nephews, who brought her great joy throughout her life.

Charlotte was the mother of six children.
She is survived by her children:

Kelly A. (Harford) Burkert and her husband, Judd Burkert;

Jill (Schwartz) Dryden;

Jodie (Schwartz) Schemel;

Mark Schwartz and his wife, Hope Schwartz;

and David J. Schwartz and his wife, Liz Schwartz.

Charlotte has [fourteen] grandchildren and their families, including her [fifteen +] great-grandchildren, loved her dearly and were deeply loved by her in return:

Taylor Clinton and her husband, Daniel Clinton, and their children, Elijah, Izabella, and Elizabeth;

Wade DiTommaso and his wife, Hayley, and their children, Maximus and Julius;

Michael DeAngelis and his wife, Alexandra, and their children, Gabe and Mary;

Nathan Macri and his wife, Stephanie, and their children, Kailen and Jason;

Kirstin Prussman and her husband, Jacob, and their children, Mason, Mila, and the late Jaxon;

Zila Schemel;

Straten Schemel and his wife, Ella, and their son, Jasper;

Alexandra Schwartz and her fiancé, Manny Fernandez, and her daughter, Charlotte;

Kaitlin Schwartz and her daughter, Cora;

Mark Schwartz Jr.;

Kirstyn Richards;

Madisyn Schwartz;

Zack Ratkiewicz and his wife Jacki and their children, Natalie, Serena, Chase, Marcel, Chanel, Celine, and Markus;

And

Seth Ratkiewicz; and his son Kamdyn

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, May 13, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Mae A. Stump Funeral Home, Inc., 117 West Main Street, Fleetwood. Burial will follow at St. Paul's Union Cemetery, Fleetwood.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Charlotte to the Activity Fund at Laureldale Nursing and Rehabilitation, 2125 Elizabeth Avenue, Laureldale, PA 19605.