Barbara Schaefer

Barbara Helen Schaefer, 95, of Scott City died at 3:45 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 31, 1916 in Ancell, Mo., the daughter of Andrew and Philomena Hamm Glueck. She married Zeno "Sam" Michael Schaefer on Nov. 23, 1939, in Kelso, Mo. He preceded her in death March 24, 1962.

Barbara spent her life in service to our Lord and those around her. While working multiple jobs at one time, she found time to volunteer for Meals on Wheels, local nursing homes, the Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corp. and sat with the elderly in their homes, all while seeing that all of her children graduated from Notre Dame Regional High School.

She continued her volunteer work after retiring and also helped prepare the alter for daily Mass. You could always find her with raffle tickets for sale, serving meals or working in the kitchen, cooking for the Knights of Columbus Ladies' Sodality in their fundraising efforts.

She was a member of the Vitae society, Voice for Life and SEMO Lifesavers. For 20 years she participated in the annual "March for Life" pro-life rally in Washington, D.C., protesting abortion. When she became too old to make the trip, some of her daughters took her place in her honor. In 1996, she received the Crystal Rose Award for her efforts in the pro-life movement.

She was also a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Scott City, and its ladies sodality, the ladies auxiliary of Knights of Columbus, Daughters of Isabella Cir. No. 659, Council of Catholic Women, lifetime member of the VFW and Navy mothers.

Loving survivors include 10 daughters, Ann Ingram of Oran, Mo., Edna (Pete) Crosswhite of Glasgow, Mo., Valeria "Skeeter" (Martin) Lee of Chicago, Xaveria "Fats" (Donnie) Sturm of Gordonville, Barbara (Roger) Myers of Marble Hill, Mo., Darlene (Gregg) Laton of Cameron, N.C., Kathleen (Dallas) Schaefer of Cape Girardeau, Marian Wyatt, Cynthia King and Karla Schaefer, all of Scott City; three sons, Cleophus "Butch" (Carolyn) Schaefer of Bell City, Mo., Marcus (Vickie) Schaefer of Benton, Mo., and Lawrence (Vickie) Schaefer of Cahokia, Ill.; one sister, Ann (Ronald) Adams of Scott City; 60 grandchildren; 92 great-grandchildren and 24 great-great-grandchildren

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Theresa; two sons Andrew (Mabel) Schaefer of Scott City and Zeno Michael "Sammy" (Linda) Schaefer of Russellville, Ark.; two brothers Herbert and A.J. Glueck; and two sisters, Augusta Blattel and Mary Diebold.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Scott City. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 p.m., followed by Knights of Columbus prayers.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church, with the Rev. Oliver Clavin officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery.

Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family request memorials to St. Joseph's Catholic Church.