Leova B. "Mickey" Schaefer

Leova Barbara "Mickey" Schaefer, age 101, entered the loving embrace of God early Saturday morning, September 2, 2023, peacefully at home.

Leova is now reunited in heaven with Elmer, her beloved husband of 56 years.

She was the loving mother of Ronald (Christine) Schaefer, James (Starr) Schaefer, and Elaine (Sherwood) Palmer; grandmother to Ronald (Kristin), Ryan, Reagan (Thomas), and Leo (Yasmeen), Christopher (Jennifer), Lisa (Keith), and Adam (Stephanie), Rebecca (Peter), Jillian (Andrew), and Bryan (Daniell). She was great ­grandmother to Andrew and Brandon, Hunter and Maximillion, Ava, Leyla, Brady, Ronald (Alexis) and Lindsay, Rachel and Jacqueline, Ila and Rhea, Nico and Luca, Peter, Michael, Meghan, and Annalise, and Benjamin and Zachary; and great-great grandmother to Colson. She was the proud aunt to hundreds of nieces and nephews. She was lovingly looked after in her final years by her kind and devoted caregiver Sandy.

Leova was the last surviving matriarch of a beautiful family. She was preceded in death by her five brothers, Anthony, Ralph, Joseph, Gilbert, and James and her sisters Margaret, Delphine, Mercedes, and Rose.

Leova was born to the late John and Matilda Untz on July 19, 1922 in Wadsworth, IL. She lived in the McHenry and Lake County areas for the entirety of her life, but proudly proclaimed that she had visited all fifty U.S. States. She made a living as the wife of a farmer. The farm was a homestead where family members would gather to help with farm chores and share delicious meals (complete with homemade cream puffs) and endless cards and games. Leova enjoyed gardening, reading, and time with friends and family. She spread her love and joy to everyone each Christmas with her specialty cut-out cookies. Her Christmas cookie tradition will be one of her legacies.

Leova was an active member of her church community. She was a member of the Christian Mothers and Altar Society, the Legion of Mary, and the Mariola Club. She helped clean the church for many years. Her faith was of the utmost importance to her, and she prayed her rosary every afternoon. A most momentous event was her trip to Rome and an audience with Pope John Paul II. Leova shared her hallmark kindness and generosity with everyone she met.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Schnieder Leucht Merwin & Cooney Funeral Home 1211 N Seminary Ave, Woodstock, IL and on Saturday, September 9, 2023, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am at Resurrection Catholic Church 2918 Country Club Road, Woodstock, IL. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 11:00 am. Interment will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery 677 W. Jackson Street, Woodstock, followed by a luncheon back at Resurrection Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Resurrection Catholic Church Music Ministry or The V Foundation.

For more information contact the Schneider, Leucht, Merwin Cooney Funeral Home at 815- 338- 1710 or see our website at www.slmcfh.com

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