Mary Patricia (Conley) Schneller

Mary Patricia (Conley) Schneller, 93, passed away peacefully on October 23, at her residence in Palm Springs, CA.

Mary was born in Rockford, IL to Raymond and Helen Conley on May 16, 1928. She graduated from Muldoon High School in Rockford. She taught at Boylan High School in Rockford before moving to California. She lived for many years in Rancho Mirage, CA, volunteering at the museum and organizing the science fair. She later moved to Palm Desert, CA, where she lived before moving to Palm Springs earlier this year. Mary loved learning her whole life and was a great patron of the arts and museums in the area.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Ray and Helen; her first husband, Dr. Peter Poliak; second husband, Mr. Richard Schneller; and sisters, Sally (Conley) Callahan and Janet (Conley) Murray.

Mary is survived by her sisters, Kay (Conley) Dannenberg of Reston, VA, and Connie (Conley) Nelson of Richfield, MN, and several nieces and nephews for whom she was a dearly loved Aunt.

Mary will be interred near her parents at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Winnebago, IL, in a ceremony in early 2022.

A Mass will be held in Mary’s memory at Sacred Heart Church on November 14 at 11:00 am.

Memorials in her honor may be made to Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert, CA.

Arrangements in Palm Desert are being handled by Wiefels Cremation and Funeral Services and in Rockford by Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory.