Mary L. Shils

Mary Schils of Fredonia passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family in the afternoon hours of Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at Columbia St. Mary’s Ozaukee Hospital in Mequon. She was 79 years old.

Mary was born in Milwaukee on July 19, 1943, the daughter of Carrol and Olive (nee Schlaefer) Glass.

She grew up in the Fond du Lac area, graduating from St. Mary’s Springs High School with the Class of 1961.

After graduation, she attended St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Radiology in Milwaukee to become an X-ray technician. Mary worked for more than 40 years in the radiology departments at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Port Washington and St. Mary’s Ozaukee Hospital in Mequon.

On April 8, 1967, she married Paul Schils in Fond du Lac. The couple resided in Port Washington until 1972, when they moved to Fredonia.

Mary was a longtime member of Divine Savior Parish (St. Rose of Lima) in Fredonia and taught CCD classes at St. Rose of Lima Parish for many years.

Mary was also a member at Riveredge Nature Center, where she enjoyed volunteering, and the Fredonia Garden Club, where she was a past president. She was passionate about gardening and culturing beautiful flower arrangements, inviting new species of birds and butterflies to her yard.

She enjoyed cooking and baking her delicious apple pies for friends and family.

She also enjoyed sports car racing.

Her biggest joy was spending time with her grandchildren.

Mary lived her life helping friends and family. She gave freely of her time and talents to help others.

Mary is survived by her husband Paul of Fredonia and her two children, Greg (Jill) Schils of St. Cloud, Wis., and Julie (Steven Jr.) Cox of Mt. Horeb.   

She is further survived by seven grandchildren, Brittney Schils, Taylor Schils, Ashley (Tanner) Bury, Kristofer Schils, Cody Graff, Nicholas (Natalia) Graff and William Cox; two great-grandsons, Cole Graff and Isaac Bury; three sisters, Lenore (Robert) Janda, Lucille (the late William) Nuss and Jane (Michael) Schumaker; two sisters-in-law, Terry (Lyle) Sperber and Mary (Craig) Johnson; nieces; nephews; other relatives; and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Carrol and Olive Glass and her in-laws Harvey and Elisabeth Schils.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, March 10, 2023, at 4 p.m. at Divine Savior Parish, Holy Cross Chapel, 5330 County Hwy. B, Belgium.

A visitation will precede the Mass at the church on March 10  from 3 to 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Divine Savior Parish School in Fredonia.

Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington, is honored to serve the Schils family.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.