Mary Jane Schroeder

Mary Jane “Janie” Schroeder, 93, of Evansville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the West River Health Campus. Janie was born on June 10, 1932, in Evansville, to the late Leo A. and Lucina (Schaefer) Scheller. Janie was a faithful Catholic and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Boniface Catholic Church. Mary Jane attended Mater Dei High School and was in the first graduating class in 1950. It was about this time at a free outdoor movie, where she met the man of her dreams, Jim Schroeder. This meeting was the start of God’s plan. For the next six decades, these two people showed the world what true love is all about. Married October 11, 1952, a 66-year adventure began where God, love, family, and happiness was felt anytime you were in their presence. “The only day wasted is one without laughter”, was the eternal message Janie wanted all those around her to experience. She realized that God’s greatest gift to her was her five children, Jim, Janie, Julie, John and Joni. However, for over thirty years, she was also a childcare provider in her home for many, many toddlers who she could teach and guide daily with kindness, faith, and sharing. Janie taught her children the art of love, hard work, having fun, and dwelling on the positive. Surviving are Jim (Kristine), Janie Mesker (Larry), Julie Bradley (Mark), John (Tammy), and her son-in-law, Terry Cardin. She is also survived by sixteen wonderful grandchildren, fifty-one precious great grandchildren and one sweet great great grandchild. Janie knew that having fun was so important. We have countless memories of camping, drive-in movies, large, noisy family get togethers, swimming, fishing, sports, and much more. She always made sure that hugs and kisses were the magic formula for a perfect foundation for all to remember her by. Mary Jane truly enjoyed her Ladies Club meeting monthly, which consisted of high school friends and family for over sixty years. They were known to share much, much FOOD, much talking and much laughter. Our mom embraced Sacred Heart’s Haiti mission in the 1980’s and 90’s as she wrote and received letters from pastors at Dominic Savio School. Janie was preceded in death by her husband, Jim; daughter, Joni; and brothers, Joe, Bob, Don, and Richard Scheller and a sister, Margie Crowe. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 18, 2026, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 7:00 PM on Wednesday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street, where there will be a memorial service held at 6:00 PM. Friends may also visit with the family from 9:00 AM until service time on Thursday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2701 W. Franklin Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Haiti Mission or Habitat for Humanity Evansville. Our family would like to thank all of the people at West River Legacy Unit who made her last years amazing by loving her everyday as she loved them. We also wish to thank the wonderful people of Heart to Heart Hospice. Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Mary Jane Schroeder

June 10, 1932 - February 8, 2026