Mary Kelly Schneider

Mary Kelly Schneider

Johnston

On Sunday, November 17th, Mary Kelly Schneider died. She was 74. Mary was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia 6 years ago. Last June she moved to the memory care wing of Meadowview in Johnston, Iowa.

She was born Mary Jane Barker on July 20th, 1950 in Fairfield, Iowa. She graduated from Fairfield High School class of 1968. She then attended Parsons College on scholarship and graduated in 1971 Magna Cum Laude, majoring in music piano and organ performance and minoring in English Humanities. Mary was an accomplished pianist and organist, she taught piano and performed at the Presbyterian church in Fairfield.

Her love for music was immense, she played her Grand Piano for as long as she could and even in her illness she would sing and hum her favorite songs, some Christmas, some kids tunes and rock and roll classics. She also had a great sense of humor and loved movies, comedies, musicals and old classics.

Mary opened The Young America Shop in Fairfield, Iowa in 1986 where she sold children’s clothing. Her retail experience then led her to sales management positions at Younkers and Von Maur in Des Moines, Iowa. She continued to use her human resource and training skills at Communications Data Systems and then became the Learning and Performance director at Nationwide Insurance. Mary retired from Nationwide in 2008 after surviving colon cancer.

She had an old soul and a peaceful accepting demeanor. All were accepted and loved in her presence. She made you feel good when you were with her. She was witty and clever and even when her disease was progressing she could still add a smart remark in conversations. She had the opportunity to hear the Dalai Lama speak when he traveled through Iowa and she spoke of how much that meant to her. She was very aware that happiness was being in the present moment and found contentment there.

Mary is survived by her husband of 18 years, Dennis Schneider, her daughter Summer, four grandchildren, Cassidy, Africa, Bowie, Dale, and one great-grandson, Abner.

She was the center of Dennis’s world. She gave more than she received and never wanted more than she had. She was forgiving, compassionate and loved unconditionally. Mary had a beautiful smile and a perfect nose and soft blue eyes, a great sense of humor and a surprisingly wicked laugh.

Dennis would like to express his gratitude to the care team at Meadowview for their patience, compassion and love they showed Mary and himself. Thanks also to Mary’s devoted friends Virginia Peery, Cathy Barnum and Kitty Metzger, they were always there for both of them.