Theola Teddy M. Schroer

Theola Margaret Schroer, 83, died in her home after the morning church bells rang, surrounded by her loved ones singing “Amazing Grace,” on September 22, 2013, the first day of autumn. Born a farmer’s daughter in Olpe, KS, at the start of the Great Depression, Teddy moved to Kansas City after high school and worked for Pan Handle Eastern, sending money home to help her folks. Romance would soon disrupt her working girl life when she followed the twinkle in her Navy man’s eye all the way to the wilds of Hawaii, after George--her loyal spouse of 62 years--managed to convince her to marry him.

Bred from good German stock, Mom believed the cure for whatever troubled you was work. She spent many hours down in the creek in her back yard, building a stone wall with her bare hands. House cleaning and yard work were a pleasure for Mom--no joke--and she was raking up sweet gum balls the last week of her life. Her biggest complaint as of late was that she hadn’t been getting to the gym. She was clearly happiest when she was moving.

In no particular order, Mom loved sitting on her balcony watching the hummingbirds dart, Trinka--her black and white cat, the Tetons, God and Scripture, quiet time, flower gardening, dream study, visiting with her dear neighbors on a hot summer day, music, dogs in general but Labrador Retrievers specifically, cracking black walnuts by the fire on a snowy afternoon, fussing at her husband for any number of reasons, and Sunday champagne breakfast provided by Dad and her son Dan, complete with a pudding-filled, chocolate long john.

Mom was a graduate of New Wine in 1988: a Diocesan program in the formation of ministry; a catechist, a lector, a Eucharistic minister, a music minister, and a sacristan at St. Bernadette Church for over 25 years. She studied extensively at the Charismatic Bible Institute at St. Mary’s in San Antonio, Texas. She received her diploma in Spiritual Direction at the Benedictine Monastery in Pecos, New Mexico.

Throughout her life she had been an accomplished seamstress, typist, and stenographer. She enjoyed bowling, dancing, and horseback riding. She was a voracious reader of spiritually reflective books, earnest to a fault, and a perfectionist. Mom was also an easy crier at “The Sound of Music,” a large quantity cook, a crafter, a furniture refinisher, and of course, the mother of twelve children--the supposed result of a special blessing by the priest on her wedding day.

Her family feels the profoundness of this loss. Our hearts are broken to the foundation but we will honor her legacy in being the sons and daughters that we are, having been formed so deeply by her spiritual conviction and her integrity. She leaves behind our father George who is greatly loved; 12 children, Craig Schroer (Cathy), Devri Merello (David), Valerie Schroer (Michael Brock), Mark Schroer (Phyllis Becker), Michael Schroer (Angela Rodrigues), Cynthia Schroer, Mary Schroer, Susan Grant (Duane), David Schroer, Daniel Schroer (Jody Ridnour), Angela Orengo (Ozzie), and Monica Schroer; 17 grandchildren, 1 great grandchild and 2 more on the way. Cheers, Mama.You were quite a woman.

A rosary will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 25, at St. Bernadette Catholic Church with the visitation following from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. A mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 26, also at St. Bernadette. Contributions may be made to St. Bernadette Parish or Water.org.