Mary Schneider Obituary

Mary Rose Schneider, age 88, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2024, at Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers with her family by her side.

Mary Rose was born in Waterville on July 17, 1935, the daughter of the late Edward and Mary Rose (Brown) Kelly. She graduated from Utica Free Academy where she met Andrew John Chruscicki. They were married and had four children, Mary Carol Chruscicki, Andrew Joseph Chruscicki, Stephen Michael Chruscicki and Diane Elizabeth Chruscicki. December 7, 1975, brought tragedy with the sudden passing of the love of her life and husband, Andy.

While working at Cerri Flowers in Marcy, she met Rock J. Schneider who recently lost his wife. They truly enjoyed each other's company and married January 4, 1985, extending the family to include Cindy Schneider (now deceased), Rock J. Jr and Jeanie Schneider and their three children.

Mary and Rock resided on Hinman Road, Barneveld, NY in between traveling the world. They settled in Fort Myers, Florida where Mary continued her passion for creating gardens full of different flowers. They lived on a golf course where the Boston Red Sox play in the Celebrity Golf Classic to raise funds for the Golisano Children's Hospital. Every year Mary worked to get the flower gardens perfect for the players with the goal of asking them to sign baseballs for her grandchildren.

Sadly, Rock passed July 25, 2010, but Mary's faith in God and determination to be strong for her "All-American" family did not falter. Mary never lost her love for flowers or weekly dinners with family and friends that always ended with a homemade blueberry, apple or banana cream pie.

The family wishes to thank the doctors, nurses and staff of Gulf Coast Medical Center Trauma Unit in Fort Myers for all the care and attention shown to Mary and her family.

Mary is survived by her four children, stepson and their families that include 12 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews, two sisters, Norma Williams and Diane Trainor and their families and two brothers, Bob and Fran Kelly and their families.

A mass in honor of Mary will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 5:00 at St Peter's Catholic Church, 422 Coventry Ave, Utica. A Celebration of Life party will commence after the service at Mary Carol's home, 2310 Graffenburg Road, Sauquoit. Those wishing to make a donation in Mary's memory, please consider the Alzheimer's Association, American Heart Society or the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.