Florence Margaret Schroeder

As a young girl, Flo loved horseback riding in the Berkeley hills, and belonged to the International Order of Rainbow Girls before becoming an Eastern Star. She graduated from Berkeley High School and her first job was with Durkee Mayonnaise. She later worked for Boem Photographic Studios retouching photographs.

In her early twenties she met the love of her life, Louis Frederick Schroeder, at a party in Oakland. After a brief courtship, they married and had two sons, Edward and Michael. The Schroeders moved their family to Walnut Creek, CA. before moving to Burney, CA. in 1956. Louis became a Shasta County Deputy Sheriff and Flo served as the Sheriff’s Matron for a few years.

Flo immediately became active in community affairs. As an Eastern Star, she worked with the local chapter of Rainbow Girls and the Order of Demolay. Together, Louis and Florence chaperoned the Young Adult Club (YAC’s) dances which were popular in Burney at the time. Flo was an active room mother in both of her boy’s classes and she was the den mother for the Cub Scouts. Her cupcakes were legendary!

Greatly inspired by the Intermountain area, Florence applied her extensive art background and creativity to ceramics, pottery, painting, and crafts. She was a passionate gardener and apple trees she planted from seeds in Glenburn, still bear bumper crops of fruit today.

One of her favorite pastimes was to watch the deer enjoy eating the fruits of her labor.

The Schroeder family moved to Glenburn, CA in 1964. She became a member of the Glenburn Community Church and the Intermountain Artists. Around 1973, Florence began devoting herself to causes involving disabled adults in Burney and the Handicapped Center. Painting ceramics, field trips for lunch, and lots of laughter with these young adults were a few of her favorite things. The many countless hours she devoted earned her Volunteer of the Year. When she could no longer make the drive to Burney, she stayed in regular phone contact with many she cherished. She was genuinely loved by the many lives she touched.

Flo volunteered at Mayers Memorial Hospital where she traveled the halls of the long-term wing, teasing, visiting, and bringing cheer to numerous friends, patients, and staff.

Flo loved her family most of all. She shared stories of family members from long ago and her Finn heritage and her favorite Finn words with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her baked treats were a favorite at birthdays and holidays. Her family felt her love and compassion every day of the year. She loved everyone unconditionally.

She loved to visit with all she would see, and it would often take her an hour to return from the grocery store with a carton of milk. Flo had a kind and tender heart with a contagious giggle, a great sense of humor, and a twinkle in her eyes. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends and all who know her as “Grandma” or “Auntie Flo”.

Flo passed into the arms of the Lord on September 14, 2016. Her husband predeceased her on the same date 21 years ago.

Flo is survived by sons Edward and his wife Jeri of Placerville, CA and Michael and his wife Cindy of McArthur, CA; 1 granddaughter, Kimberlee Schroeder and her husband Bob Vanderlind: 2 grandsons Jacob Schroeder and wife Jill of Glenburn, CA and Scott Schroeder of Bieber, CA; 4 great-grandchildren, Louis and Kaitlyn of Glenburn, CA, Corrine Schroeder of Placerville, CA, and Camille Howard of Petaluma, CA.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of Florence Schroeder will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, September 30th, at the Intermountain Fairgrounds gazebo and George Ingram Hall in McArthur, CA.

Arrangements under the direction of McDonald's Chapel, Burney, CA.