Vitale was born on Sept. 10, 1964, to George and Anne (Murphy) Schmitt in White Plains, and grew up in Mahopac, as the oldest of seven children.
She was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in her early 20s and moved to Colorado, where she got married and raised her children. She worked as a nail technician in Denver until the disease hampered her fine motor skills too much to continue working.
It didn't stop her, though. Vitale continued her art through ceramics, creating gifts for family and friends. She was a supporter of the Multiple Sclerosis Society and participated in their yearly Walk for MS, using her motorized wheelchair.
In her spare time, she enjoyed genealogy, Tex-Mex cuisine, a good mocha frappucino, ceramics, and trivia, but most of all spending time with her family and friends.
In the last years of her life, Vitale returned to New York to be close to her family, and she lived at Somers Manor, where she received care from the kind staff.
Vitale is survived by her mother Anne Murphy Schmitt, two children; Michelle Vitale of Mahopac, and William Vitale; her stepchildren; Ara Vitale and Evan Vitale;, her siblings; Julie and Brian Sweeney; George and Anne-Catherine Schmitt; Jennifer and Greg Matera; Joanne and Paul Bauer; Jamie and Chris Smith; David Schmitt; stepmother Linda Schmitt; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles. She was predeceased by her father, George E. Schmitt, and her stepfather, Robert Hochstein. Jeanne is also survived by her husband, James Vitale, of Littleton, Colo.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Cargain Funeral Homes, Inc., 418 Route Six, Mahopac. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
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