Mary Jo Stemmer

STEMMER, Mary Jo (nee Schroder). Mary Jo Stemmer, 89, passed away Wednesday, December 26th, at Ohio's Hospice of Dayton.



Mary Jo Schroder was born on November 2, 1929 to Henry and Stella Schroder of Covington, Ky. She was their fifth child. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Klaus Stemmer, brothers Bill and Hank, sisters Estelle Schroder and Jane Anstead, and two nephews Rob and David Anstead.

Her family was active in St. Benedict Parish of Covington, KY. In 1947, Mary Jo graduated first in her class from Notre Dame Academy and received a four-year
scholarship to Villa Madonna College (now Thomas Moore University). She graduated in 1951 with a BS in Biology and Chemistry.

After graduation she went to work down the street from her home in Covington at St. Elizabeth Hospital as a Medical Technician. It was there that she met Klaus Stemmer. They were married at St. Benedict Catholic Church on May 3, 1956. In 1960, the growing Stemmer family moved into St. Antoninus Parish in the Covedale suburb of Cincinnati, OH. She lived in the family home until 2015 when she moved to St Leonard in Dayton, to be closer to family.

Mary Jo is survived by her seven children: Thomas (Rhonda) of Byesville, OH; Paul (Roseann Vorce) of Ann Arbor, MI; Eric (Frank D Hesik, Jr.) of Columbus, OH; Mark (Jean) of Dayton, OH; John (Janet) of Louisville, KY; Kurt (Cheri) of Panama City Beach, FL; and Maria (Dan) Schertler also of Dayton, OH.

In addition, Mary Jo was blessed with 14 grandchildren and one great grandchild. The grandchildren are: Matthew of Byesville, OH; Evan, Carl and Jill of Ann Arbor, MI; Samantha (Joshua) Brockman of Atlanta, GA and Katie, Cole, and Lena of Dayton, OH; Claire of Louisville, KY; Caytee (Steve) Stransky of Panama City Beach, FL; Benjamin Schertler of Atlanta, GA and Elizabeth, MaryRose and Frederick of Dayton, OH. Her great grandchild is Evelyn Rose Stemmer of Ann Arbor, MI.

As Editor of the Mount Notre Dame newspaper, "The Gavel", Mary Jo wrote "add charm to everything you do by making it as beautiful as you possibly can; temper all you do with generosity, graciousness and kindness. Let courtesy be your make-up, truth your lipstick and goodness your mascara."

Her faith and these traits led her to support multiple causes for the benefit of the poor, the unborn and those in need. She supported the Migrant Farm Workers, she volunteered monthly at St Francis lunch room, she prayed publicly in support of the unborn and with the Blue Army Rosary group at St. Teresa of Avila. She volunteered to help pregnant women at the Pregnancy Problem Center (now Pregnancy Center West). Why did she do it? "Initially, because I knew how to do lab tests. I didn't know what I was getting in for! Because it is something that needs doing plus somebody should do it – why not me?"

She provided transportation for several homebound members of St. Antoninus Parish. As Mary Jo's sisters Estelle and Jane aged, she helped with transportation and care. She did the same for Rob and David Anstead. She lived her words as she helped others, not just with generosity and kindness, but the truth when it was needed.

Visitation will be 9:30 to 10:30 AM Monday, December 31st, at St. Antoninus Catholic Church Greeting Room, 1500 Linnemann Road. Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10:30 AM. Burial will be at St. Joseph New Cemetery in Delhi Township.

Memorial contributions may be made to Catholics United for the Poor, PO Box 14548, Cincinnati OH 45250; or St. Bonaventure Indian Mission & School, PO Box 610, Thoreau, NM 87323. Please note on your check that the donation is in memory of Mary Jo Stemmer.

B.J. Meyer Sons Funeral Home serving the family. www.bjmeyer.com