Kathleen Murray Schmerer

Kathleen Murray Schmerer of Wilmington was born in White Plains New York on December 3, 1920, daughter of the late Catherine and James Murray. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, George Schmerer, her sister Moira Marran, and brothers James, John, Michael, and Vincent. Mrs. Schmerer was a pioneer ""working mother,"" working in management for Montgomery Ward for many years and later as a Home Health Care Manager for Westchester County, NY. She loved the trips that she took with her beloved husband during their retirement years, particularly those that involved snow, beaches and the beautiful Cabot Trail of Nova Scotia. She is survived by her daughter and son, Carol Cunningham and son-in-law Donald, and George Schmerer, all of Wilmington and sister-in-law, Ita Murray of Olny, MD. She was also the proud and loving grandmother of five: Frank Blair, Cathy Blair, Elizabeth Barnhart, Carol Caione husband, Jim and George Schmerer wife, Mendy and great-grandmother of nine: Dylan, Jimmy, Brian, Kevin, Kimberly, Krista, Stephen, Gillian and Owen and a wonderful aunt to the large clan of Murray cousins. The family extends special thanks to her home caregivers, Marie Ahearn, Phyllis Brown, Anne Marie Broderick, Agnes Dolan and Nancy Porter and to the staff of Lower Cape Fear Hospice, especially Shirley Bremmer, RN. A memorial mass will be held at St. Mark's Catholic Church on Monday, December 1 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 222 N. 17th Street, Wilmington NC 28401 or the Frank H. Kenan Chapel, 510 Arboretum Drive, Wilmington 28405.