Mary Elizabeth Schroeder

Mary Elizabeth Schroeder, age 74, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2023, at Norwood HealthCare in Norwood, Massachusetts.  Born in Boston, Massachusetts on June 14, 1949, she was the daughter of the late Michael J. and Marie E. (Egan) Collins.  Mary was raised in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston with her brothers, Thomas and James, and graduated from Cardinal Cushing Central High School for Girls in South Boston with the Class of 1968.  Following her graduation, Mary took a position with the City of Boston, working in the Assessor's Office.

Mary married her beloved husband, John A. Schroeder, making their home in Dorchester before settling into their waterfront condo at Boston's Harbor Towers in 1990.  Following the wedding, Mary left her position with the Assessor's Office, attained her real estate license, and began working alongside John, managing his businesses, Abet Construction and Schroeder Consulting, for many years. In 2000, Mary and John made their home at Longfellow Place, where they loved to entertain, hosting countless pool parties and barbecues.  They looked forward to the annual fireworks display in the city, inviting friends and family to their upper-level condo for the perfect view.  Ten years later, the couple moved to Beech Street in Roslindale and more recently, after John passed, Mary left the city, making her home in Norwood.

Throughout her life, Mary loved to travel.  She enjoyed trips up the coast to Maine with friends, and looked forward to visiting tropical destinations in the Caribbean, exploring Bermuda and Haiti.  While being on vacation was fun, Mary was a Boston girl through and through.  She loved following her hometown teams, especially the Red Sox and Celtics.  As a devoted Celtics fan, Mary was a decades-long season ticket holder at the Garden, taking in games with her best friend from high school, Kathy Stanton.  Most of all, Mary loved spending time with her family, which extended first to her treasured black labs Cleo and Maidchin, and later her cats Lady, Macbeth and Jamie.

Beloved wife of the late John A. Schroeder.

Devoted daughter of the late Michael J. and Marie E. (Egan) Collins.

Loving sister of the late Thomas P. Collins and his late wife, Lois, and the late James M. Collins and his surviving wife, Kathy, of Wollaston. 

Cherished aunt of Michael J. Collins married to Jennifer of North Andover, Christi M. Collins married to Leida of Roslindale, niece Karen E. Collins of Dover, New Hampshire, niece Patricia A. Barry of Norwood, nephew Kenneth E. Collins married to Meghan of Foxborough, Donna L. Collins of Ashland, Judy E. Larkee married to Scott of Norwood, Lori J. Brodeur married to Lucien of Canton, Michelle Duane married to David of Wollaston, James Collins married to Marianne of Hanover, Matthew Collins married to Laura of Weymouth, and Daniel Collins married to Kate of Hanover.

Also survived by many great nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Mary's visitation on Thursday, August 17, 2023, from 10:30 to 11:00 AM, in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.  A Funeral Home Service will follow at 11:00 AM.  Interment will take place at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in West Roxbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to MSPCA-Angell, Attn: Donations, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130 or at https://www.mspca.org/