Mrs. Mary Louise Shoemaker's Obituary
Mrs. Mary Louise "Weezie" Lebherz Shoemaker, 99, of Frederick, passed away on December 7, 2023 at Frederick Health Hospital. She was the loving wife of the late Jacob Arthur Shoemaker, Jr., who passed on Dec. 8, 1994.
Born March 18, 1924 in Frederick, Louise was the daughter of the late Robert W. and Mary Amanda Lebherz. She graduated from St. John's Catholic High School in 1942 and attended nursing school at the University of Notre Dame in Baltimore. She worked for many years in several Frederick institutions such as Everedy Co., the Coca-Cola bottling plant, and Frederick Memorial Hospital. She loved music and poetry; she played violin as a child and piano as an adult. She sang in church choirs, and said "No house is complete without a dog and a piano". She also enjoyed reading, travel, crossword puzzles, slots and bingo. She lived a life of grace, perseverance, and faith. She relished the time spent with her family, the warmth of the kitchen table and life's lessons learned and shared through generations. And at her kitchen table, there was "always room for one more".
In addition to her loving husband, Louise was preceded in death by her three brothers whom she adored, Robert Lebherz (Anne), Joseph Lebherz (Margaret), and Francis Lebherz; sons-in-law, Allan Eschinger, Jim Staub, and Chris Molander. She is survived by seven children, Theresa "Terry" Shoemaker, Mary Rippeon, Frances Staub, Jacob Shoemaker III (Mary Jo), Kathryn Molander, Jerome Shoemaker (Sarah), and Karen Eschinger; sister-in-law, Ann Lebherz; former son-in-law, James Rippeon; seventeen grandchildren; twenty-nine great-grandchildren (and one on the way); three great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.
The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the entire staff at Frederick Health Hospital for the tenderness and care given to Louise and her family.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, December 19th at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 118 East 2nd Street in Frederick. Inurnment will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Frederick. There will also be a celebration of Louise's life on or about her 100th birthday. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Salvation Army or Catholic Daughters, or a charity of one's choice.
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