ALTAMONT — Nellie “Mae” Schultz, a deeply religious woman known for her kindness, died on Saturday, March 4, 2017, at the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center. She was 102.

“Mae was a kind and gentle soul who has winged her way back to her heavenly father,” her friends wrote in a tribute.

“Her family was her church,” said Carol Relyea, a dear friend.

Mrs. Schultz was born on Jan. 20, 1915 to the late Nelson and Florence (née Spoor) Levey, in Guilderland. She was close to her grandfather, William Spoor, who raised her after her mother died young, said Mrs. Relyea. Her grandfather was director of the Altamont bank, said Les Relyea, Carol’s husband.

Mrs. Schultz had been a member of the Helderberg Reformed Church in Guilderland Center since she was a girl of 14. She met Carol and Les Relyea when they became members of the church.

The church was having a talent auction as a fundraiser, Mrs. Relyea recalled. “My husband said he had no talent, except for changing snow tires, back when people did that,” Mrs. Relyea said. Mrs. Schultz, who was a widow with no  children, bid on his talent. “He changed her tires,” said Mrs. Relyea, and their friendship began.

Later, when Mr. Relyea’s mother died and his father, Herbert Relyea, was lonely, the Relyeas thought Mrs. Schultz and Herbert Relyea might enjoy doing things together.

“We called her but she said she was too busy,” said Mrs. Relyea; Mrs. Schultz made ceramics, did needlepoint, made afghans, and went on bus trips. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 331, and the Young at Heart Senior Citizens group.

“I came up with the idea of taking Les’s dad and her out to lunch after church and then taking a ride,” said Mrs. Relyea. It turned out that Mrs. Schultz and Herbert Relyea’s late wife had been childhood friends and went to secretarial school together.

Herbert Relyea and Mrs. Schultz became good friends. “Les’s dad would call every Sunday to have lunch with her and go for a ride. That lasted for 12 years until he passed away,” said Mrs. Relyea. “She had become part of our family. She never had any children. She would come to our house for the holidays and birthdays.”

In return, Mrs. Schultz would entertain the Relyeas at her home on Vosburgh Road. The house had been built by her husband, Arthur, who worked as a cabinetmaker for General Electric. He had died as a result of a fall from the garage roof, said Mrs. Relyea.

“Her pride was that house,” said Mrs. Relyea. “She set up the table just so.”

Mrs. Schultz managed well on her own — “My husband would take her to doctors’ appointments and grocery shopping,” said Mrs. Relyea —until she fell and broke her arm.

“She went to rehab and they deemed she couldn’t live by herself,” said Mrs. Relyea. So Mrs. Schultz became a resident of the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center.

“We celebrated her 100th birthday at the Helderberg Church with a big party. Her friends who were still living came. She outlasted most of them,” said Mrs. Relyea.

Mrs. Schultz liked to give. She was known for being “a great baker,” said Mrs. Relyea. When she would visit the Relyea family’s camp on Sacandaga, she would bring homemade treats like chocolate cake, blueberry muffins, and cherry cheesecake. “We’d have to eat them right away or she said they would go stale,” said Mrs. Relyea.

Mrs. Schultz would go to garage and lawn sales looking for 10-cent bud vases. She’d put flowers in them and, after church, deliver the vases to her friends at the Guilderland Center nursing home.

“She was really caring and wanted to help everyone. We always called her Mae,” said Mrs. Relyea, “but a lot of people called her Sweet Nell.”

Mrs. Schultz’s faith was central to her life. She had taught Sunday school at the Helderberg Reformed Church and some of the current members of the church were once her students, said Mrs. Relyea.

“She would read her Bible faithfully and she would pray faithfully,” said Mrs. Relyea. “She had a lot of faith. It was an inspiration for people.”

The last time Carol and Les Relyea saw Mrs. Schultz, she was comatose. “She was moving her hands and they went into a praying position,” said Mrs. Relyea, “and her mouth was moving. She was praying.”

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Nellie “Mae” Schultz is survived by her dear friends, Les and Carol Relyea of Altamont.

Her husband of 40 years, Arthur E. Schultz, died before her as did her cousin Alma Wilson and her cousin’s husband, Walter; and her dear friend Herbert Relyea.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 11, at 11 a.m. at the Helderberg Reformed Church at 435 Route 146 in Guilderland Center. Arrangements are by the Fredendall Funeral Home of Altamont.

Her friends thank the staff at the Daughters of Sarah Nursing Center, especially the Memory Enhancement Unit and Gold Unit staff for their care, love, and support during her stay.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Helderberg Reformed Church, Post Office Box 96, Guilderland Center, NY 12085.

— Melissa Hale-Spencer