1936
Dr.
2020
Dr. Helga Giesela Ingeborg Wendt Schmettau
January 17, 1936 — January 5, 2020
It is with great sadness but immense love in our hearts that the family of Dr. Helga Giesela Ingeborg Wendt Schmettau announces her passing at 83 years of age on Sunday, January 5, 2020. The daughter of the late Arno Wendt and Elizabeth Wendt Licht, Helga was born in Bremen, Germany on January 17, 1936.
Helga graduated from the Kippenberg Schule in Bremen, where she studied, becoming fluent in four languages. Married to the late Hans Eduard Otto Georg Schmettau, also of Bremen, they emigrated to Mankato, Minnesota in 1959. Later living in Los Alamos, New Mexico, the family settled in Spartanburg, SC in 1966. Some of her fondest times were of the family spending two months each summer at the Brevard Music Center in nearby Brevard, NC.
Helga later attended Converse College, graduating in 1972 with Honors in Contemporary Humanities, With Distinction in Course, and as a Gamma Sigma Honor Society graduate, while also raising three school-aged children. She later attended Sherman College of Chiropractic, graduating in 1985 as Doctor of Chiropractic.
Helga set up her Chiropractic office in Sligo, Repubic of Ireland, where she lived a busy and full life from 1986-2006, being fondly called Doctor Helga by her many patients. She frequently traveled to Germany and to the USA to visit family, but Sligo was a most picturesque, wonderful home base for her. In 2007 she retired and returned to Spartanburg, SC, where she continued to share her life-long passions with friends and family.
Helga will be remembered as being a bright, individualist, and keenly free spirit, brimming with life and unbounded energy. Her life was a beautiful quest—she loved music, language, philosophy, spirituality, art, and especially the mysteries and wonders of nature in all its multifaceted forms. As a chiropractor, she continued to deeply explore topics and passions such as mysticism, the nature of language, natural healing, vegan and vegetarian cooking, jewelry-making, weaving and more. Helga was ever present in the home, baking amazing, aromatic breads—often daily—for her family and the ever-present circle of her children’s friends who considered her a second mom.
Helga was preceded in death by her husband, Hans, and by her daughter, Andrea (Nina) Jacqueline Schmettau of Spartanburg, SC. She is survived by her brother, Gebhard Licht of Worpswede, Germany, and her son Manuel Schmettau, who lives in Spartanburg. She is also survived by her daughter, Antonia Christine Schmettau, and two grandsons, Adrian Schmettau and Gabriel Nierman, of Raleigh NC.
The family would like to give a heart-felt thank you to the wonderful, loving staff at Kindred Hospice of Spartanburg, which was a blessing these past few months. Helga felt bathed in love with the gentle care provided by her Kindred nurses and home health aides. Mindy, Felicia, and Joy from Kindred and a neighbor caregiver, Lizzie, have a special place in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association.
Helga graduated from the Kippenberg Schule in Bremen, where she studied, becoming fluent in four languages. Married to the late Hans Eduard Otto Georg Schmettau, also of Bremen, they emigrated to Mankato, Minnesota in 1959. Later living in Los Alamos, New Mexico, the family settled in Spartanburg, SC in 1966. Some of her fondest times were of the family spending two months each summer at the Brevard Music Center in nearby Brevard, NC.
Helga later attended Converse College, graduating in 1972 with Honors in Contemporary Humanities, With Distinction in Course, and as a Gamma Sigma Honor Society graduate, while also raising three school-aged children. She later attended Sherman College of Chiropractic, graduating in 1985 as Doctor of Chiropractic.
Helga set up her Chiropractic office in Sligo, Repubic of Ireland, where she lived a busy and full life from 1986-2006, being fondly called Doctor Helga by her many patients. She frequently traveled to Germany and to the USA to visit family, but Sligo was a most picturesque, wonderful home base for her. In 2007 she retired and returned to Spartanburg, SC, where she continued to share her life-long passions with friends and family.
Helga will be remembered as being a bright, individualist, and keenly free spirit, brimming with life and unbounded energy. Her life was a beautiful quest—she loved music, language, philosophy, spirituality, art, and especially the mysteries and wonders of nature in all its multifaceted forms. As a chiropractor, she continued to deeply explore topics and passions such as mysticism, the nature of language, natural healing, vegan and vegetarian cooking, jewelry-making, weaving and more. Helga was ever present in the home, baking amazing, aromatic breads—often daily—for her family and the ever-present circle of her children’s friends who considered her a second mom.
Helga was preceded in death by her husband, Hans, and by her daughter, Andrea (Nina) Jacqueline Schmettau of Spartanburg, SC. She is survived by her brother, Gebhard Licht of Worpswede, Germany, and her son Manuel Schmettau, who lives in Spartanburg. She is also survived by her daughter, Antonia Christine Schmettau, and two grandsons, Adrian Schmettau and Gabriel Nierman, of Raleigh NC.
The family would like to give a heart-felt thank you to the wonderful, loving staff at Kindred Hospice of Spartanburg, which was a blessing these past few months. Helga felt bathed in love with the gentle care provided by her Kindred nurses and home health aides. Mindy, Felicia, and Joy from Kindred and a neighbor caregiver, Lizzie, have a special place in our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to The Alzheimer’s Association.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dr. Helga Giesela Ingeborg Wendt Schmettau, please visit our flower store.
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