I’d like to tell you a bit about our mom. Helen Margaret Swartz was born on May 26, 1912 in Toledo, Ohio to Fred L. Swartz and Goldie Mitchell. I always thought Goldie was a nickname. She had an older brother, Donald who was quite a bit older than her which I think made her feel like an only child.
Mom as a young woman.
All she ever wanted was a large family. I think that’s what first attracted her to our dad-he had a wonderful large family. She married Arthur Schemenauer on April 17, 1933. I’ve seen her refer many times that they were married 50 years and 42 days. She was proud of the fact that she stood by her promise to love him through better and worse. We were all proud of her, too.
Her grown life was definitely circled around her family. I never realized we were poor growing up. Mom always made do with the little resources she had and we always had everything we needed. She was active in our school’s Mother’s Club and church and even after we were all grown up, she continued to be active in social clubs at the Mobile Home park, even as president for several terms.
Mom & Tom
One of the things I remember about mom was her contagious laugh. Once she started laughing, the whole room would have to join in. Some people don’t like change-mom thrived on change. Ever so often we would come home from school and she would have changed all the furniture in the house-even switching which rooms would be ours. She had lots of energy and was a hard worker. I don’t ever remember her being sick. Now I realize that is because when she was sick she went on about her business like usual. She didn’t “call in sick” and go back to bed. She got up, made our lunches, cooked our breakfast, kept us moving and got us to school. Our house was always spotless-she even washed down the walls a couple times each year.
Once we were all grown, she continued being the best mom. Always supportive and encouraged us to follow our dreams. She had the opportunity to give each of us a surprise birthday party and even got us all from California to go to Kansas for Carol’s surprise 50th birthday. We had the privilege of giving her a surprise birthday party last year for her 90th birthday. She always enjoyed our family get-togethers.
Mom & Matt
Our family consists of Richard and his wife Esther, Carol and her husband Merle, Dan and his wife Sara, Tom and his wife Gina and daughter Mary. Passing before her was her little boy, Ned who was 5 years old when he died of leukemia and Mary’s husband, Jerry. She has 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
I’d like to conclude by quoting some words she had left in her will. It was so typical of her to still be worried about money: “I leave no insurance for my burial. My children will have to pay my expense of leaving this earth. I’m sorry! I do not have much to leave my children and grandchildren in moneys or material things. My hopes are that you all will always be as you all are now, 1997, my wonderful, beautiful children who I have always been so proud of each and every one of you! Please keep in touch with each other all the rest of your lives. If need be, help each other. I love you all very much.”
Mom's 90th Birthday
We love you, Mom.
