Mary Jane Schaefer, age 87, went to her eternal rest on Thursday May 27, 2021. She was born November 8, 1933, in Bexar County, Texas, to Edmund and Katherine Real. Mary Jane was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. At a dance hall in St. Hedwig, Texas, she was introduced to the handsome Robert Lee Schaefer, who wrote beautiful love letters, captivating her heart with prose and poetry. They married on Thanksgiving Day in 1950; guests provided a bountiful turkey dinner to the celebration. Their union lasted fifty-six years. Her greatest joy was her family. She and Robert had a large family of ten children, who are forever grateful for this legacy of family.
Mom had to quit school at sixteen when her father died suddenly at the age of 50. She had to go to work to help support her family. Years later with eight children at home, she went to night school and earned her GED. Mom was active in church, sewed quilts for the Holy Family auctions, taught cooking and sewing classes, played bridge and Mahjong, loved to garden, and researched the genealogy of her family, Robert’s family, and all of the spouses of her children. She was a member of The Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Real County is named after an ancestor who served in the Texas Legislature.
In the early years of marriage, Mom and Dad lived in Point Comfort and Port Lavaca because Robert worked for ALCOA. Four of their children graduated from Calhoun High School. In the early 70s, Dad was transferred to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with ALCOA, and as a supportive wife, Mom packed up a household and five children to move from sunshine to snow. For seven years, Pittsburgh was home, and then Dad announced a transfer to Suriname, South America, and Mom packed up another household and one child and became an international traveler. After four years in Suriname, Mom and Dad finally returned home to Port Lavaca where Mom returned to her active life of family and friends. In 2004, after Hurricane Claudette, Mom and Dad listened to our advice and moved to Victoria.
Surviving family is: Linda Johnson (Donnie), David Vasquez (son-in-law), Donna Schaefer, Robert Schaefer (Bonny), Tim Schaefer (Susann), Carol Schaefer Taylor (Steve), Rosanna Fossati (Dan), Margaret Black (David), William Schaefer (Jenni), 25 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, numerous nieces and nephews, one brother-in-law, and four sisters-in-law. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings, Robert (husband), Cindy (daughter), and Theresa (infant daughter).
A rosary will be at 9:30 am Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Holy Family Catholic Church with a funeral mass at ten. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be her grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to a local food bank, Salvation Army, Holy Family Church, or donor’s choice.
Funeral services are under the direction of Rosewood Funeral Chapel. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.rosewoodfuneralchapel.com.
