Mary Schwartz

A funeral service for Mary Schwartz, 88, will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 24, 2024 at Dunbar Funeral Home, Northeast Chapel, with burial in Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m. Her family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:30 until 11:30 a.m., prior to the service.

Mary went to heaven on Sunday, June 16, 2024. Born in Czechoslovakia and raised in Ludwigsburg, Germany, she was the daughter of the late Alois Gruenberger and Johanna Zotcher Gruenberger.

Mary met Earl in 1952 while she was living in Ludwigsburg and he was stationed there as a Soldier in the U.S. Army. It was love at first sight (at least on Earl’s part!) and they were married two years later in 1954. Mary didn't speak any English, and Earl didn't speak any German, so their entire courtship took place through a small translation book. This clearly only made their bond grow stronger, as this year would have been their 70th wedding anniversary on August 19th.

Mary came to the United States with Earl in 1955 and learned how to speak English largely by watching television shows. Together, she and her husband created a beautiful home in Rock Island, IL which they lived in for the next 50 years. They enjoyed planting flowers and won numerous city beautification awards for having the most beautiful yard in the entire city. When they weren’t decorating their home, they were out at the movies, dancing or waterskiing on the Mississippi River together. Mary absolutely loved waterskiing, she had so much fun!

Mary and Earl tried for over 20 years to have children but were unable to conceive, which was a mystery for multiple doctors who examined them and said they were each in perfect health and to just continue trying. After so many years of trying to no avail, they accepted that it must not have been in God’s plan for them to have a child. Of course, God laughed and told them He was just teaching them patience; Mary and Earl had their daughter, Susan, in 1977. Their home was located on 34th Street, so Mary said Susan was her own little, “Miracle on 34th Street”.

Mary had a gentle nature and she loved birds…she had canaries, parakeets, and cockatiels as pets and loved them with all her heart. She read and studied how to properly care for birds and was incredibly knowledgeable on the subject. She taught her daughter how to love and care for even the smallest of God’s creatures. She and Susan saved an injured baby robin together, whom they named “Robbie”, and nurtured him back to health for many months until he could fly on his own. Mary would sit out on the back porch and for years Robbie would come and eat out of her hand and would then fly away. The last time he returned, he brought his mate with him to meet Mary!

When Susan was 5 years old, she found a newly born sparrow who had fallen from her nest. Her eyes were not even open yet. Susan brought the little sparrow to her Mom and Mary cared for it the way it’s own mother would have. Mary named the sparrow “Chirpy”, and she was part of the Schwartz family for over 16 years. Chirpy would go outside with Mary and while Mary was planting flowers, Chirpy would fly around and play with the other birds, coming down to land on Mary’s shoulder occasionally to check in. Then, when Mary held her hand up and whistled, Chirpy would fly to her hand and they would go back inside together. Chirpy passed away when Susan was 21 years old.

Mary was also an expert seamstress and loved to latch hook, crochet, and cross-stitch; she had an incredible eye for detail. She made all of Susan’s childhood clothing and created beautiful home décor. In so many ways, she taught her daughter how to have that same attention to detail. One example of this is when Mary, who at one point had been unable to speak any English at all, sat for hours upon hours with Susan each night helping her to study for the spelling bee. When Susan would get tired and wanted to quit, Mary would insist that she just take a small break, but then return to studying. Together, Mary and her daughter went all the way to the Illinois State Spelling Bee Championship, where Susan took 2nd place, and Mary was so very proud! She had helped Susan to build the muscles of consistency and discipline that continued to serve her tremendously throughout the rest of her life!

There are no words to describe how grateful Mary’s family is to have had such an amazing wife and mother, nor can words describe how greatly she will be missed until they see her again!

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young – a place near your altar, Lord Almighty, my King…” ~ Psalm 84:3

Surviving are her husband, Earl L. Schwartz, her daughter, Susan J. Heintzman, and her son-in-law, James P. Heintzman.

In addition to her parents, Mary was predeceased by her sisters, Rosie and Annie, and her brother, Otto. She is now reunited with her entire German family in heaven!

The family wishes to thank Heart of Hospice and Visiting Angels for their steadfast care and support, which enabled Mary to remain in the comfort of her own home, surrounded by her loving family.

Memorials may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association at www.lbda.org.

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.