Mary Virginia Schmitz

Mary Virginia Schmitz, 87, Rockford, passed away Monday, June 20, 2022, in her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born June 27, 1934, in Calamine, WI, the daughter of Joseph and Lenice (Lippolt) Carey. Mary married John Schmitz in Calamine, WI ln April 7, 1951. Mary worked for the Rockford Register Star for 35 years retiring as the Supervisor of Circulation. She was a past member of St. Edward Catholic Church for many years prior to becoming a member of St. Rita Catholic Church. Mary loved baking, holiday and seasonal decorating, collecting dolls, painting her nails and shopping on the home network. Her hair always looked perfect and she would wear a ring on every finger. Mary always had her favorite gummy orange slices in a jar on the counter and her home was filled with pictures of her grand and great-grandchildren. She was the ultimate Green Bay Packer super fan!
Survived by her husband of 71 years, John; her children, Karen (Steve) Hoover, Gregory (Bonnie) Schmitz, Rick (JoAnne Spensley) Schmitz, Kim (John) Soderberg, Stephen (Sue) Schmitz, and Rodney (Tracy Wallin) Schmitz; her grandchildren, Jonathan (Inese) Hoover, Adam (Roxanne) Hoover, Eric Hoover, Greg Schmitz, Jr., Chad Schmitz, Todd (Stephanie) Schmitz, Kara (Chris DePaepe) Soderberg, Marissa (Ben) Holmstrom, Jessica (Rob) Felhing, Jake Soderberg, Julie Blankenship, Jordyn Schmitz, Zachary Schmitz, Kitchrik, and Keifer Schmitz; 13 great-grandchildren; her sisters, Barb Hill, Judy (Ron) Scullion, Ruth (Eugene “Buzz:”) Pascoe, and Catherine (John) Stauffacher; son-in-law, Brian Blankenship; sisters-in-law, Mary Carey, Marion Schmitz, Barb Schmitz and Helen Schmitz; many nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her daughter, Lisa; her grandson, Scott Blankenship; her sisters, Joanne Saffino and Helen Basting and her brother, Dale Carey.
Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 27, 2022, at St. Rita Catholic Church, 6254 Valley Knoll Dr., Rockford, IL. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until time of service on Monday at the church. Burial in Arlington Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Fitzgerald Funeral Home and Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Rd. Rockford. Memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105. Share online condolences at www.fitzgeraldfh.com.