- Date Of Birth: July 5, 1931
- Date Of Death: December 10, 2021
- State: Indiana
Mary A. Schilling, daughter of the late John R. and Josephine A. (Fries) Brennan of South Bend, a lifelong resident of the South Bend area, passed away on December 10, 2021 at home surrounded by her husband and children. She was born in South Bend, Indiana on July 5, 1931 and was 90 years old.
Mary attended Holy Cross Grade School, the former Saint Joseph’s Academy, and graduated from Saint Mary’s College in 1953. Following graduation, she was a teacher in the South Bend Community School Corporation for several years, until choosing to remain home to care for her family.
On October 22, 1955, at Holy Cross church, she married C. George Schilling, who survives her. They had been acquainted with each other since birth owing to the fact that their parents had been long time friends. They began to date when they were students at Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College, respectively, and had been married for 66 years.
Mary and George are the parents of seven children. They, and their seventeen grandchildren are:
David (Ilse) of Katy, Texas, and their children, Nicholas (Kristie), Dr. Matthew (Michelle), Christopher, and Katrina.
Thomas of San Juan Island, Washington.
Ann (Jack) Gaido of Naperville, Illinois, and their children, Mary, Laura (Chris) Grimes, Mark – Captain, USMC, and Peter.
Theresa (Jim) Doyle of Danbury, Connecticut.
Martha (Dr. Michael) Fabian of Ormond Beach, Florida and their children, Ann Marie, Stephanie – Captain USAF, and Dr. Michael.
Nicholas (Susan) of Granger, Indiana, and their children, Katherine (Christian) Clark, Patrick (Ali), Nicholas Jr. (Ellen), Megan, and Christopher.
Laura (Rusty) Nereng of Woodbury, Minnesota and their daughter, Maria.
They also have 11 great grandchildren: Andrew, Theodore, Levi, James, William, Benjamin, Henry, Thomas, Caroline, Ford, and Miller.
Mary is survived by a brother, Daniel Brennan of Kerrville, Texas, and brother-in-law, Fred Kravetz of Cedar City, Utah. She was preceded in death by sister, Kathleen (Mitch) Mikula of Austin, Texas. And sister-in-law, Martha Kravetz of Cedar City, Utah. She has 9 nieces and 5 nephews.
Mary loved being George’s wife, a mother and a homemaker, and thought each period of her life was the best.
She enjoyed the friendships made over the years in bridge clubs and in book discussion groups. She was a member of the Christ Child Society and the South Bend Alumnae club of Saint Mary’s College. For many years she was a Red Cross volunteer, a volunteer in the newborn unit of Saint Joseph’s Regional Medical center, and a tour guide at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame. She was also a long-time volunteer at the Saint Joseph County Public Library in services to the Homebound, and was a Foster mother for twenty years for Catholic Social Services caring for more than 150 newborn babies. She was an active member of Saint Joseph Parish for well over fifty years, where her seven children attended grade school.
Following her husband’s retirement, they made many trips both here and abroad, and across the country visiting family. They renewed their wedding vows on their fiftieth wedding anniversary at a Mass in Nassau, the Bahamas while celebrating with their entire family.
