In Memory of

Mary

Schreindorfer

Obituary for Mary Schreindorfer

Mary Edna (Drain) Schreindorfer passed away at her home in Simsbury on Thursday, August 4, 2022. She was surrounded by the soothing sounds of Celtic music and the tender touch of her loved ones. Edna, also fondly known as “Eddie Spaghetti," “The Queen," and “Mother Mary,” was 100.8 years young and squeezed every last second out of life. Her secret to longevity was her faith, her love of singing, and her decision to never smoke or drink.

When asked her date of birth, she would often say she was born on the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 1921 in Holyoke, MA. She was the 8th child of Scottish born Dan and Bridget (Brady) Drain, but the first to be born in the United States. She was the last surviving family member of her 9 siblings. Edna served as an Air Warden with her father, and volunteered as a nurse’s aide with her sister Barney, in Hartford during WWII. Her family spent summers living in an old army tent at Hammonasset Beach, a tradition Edna continued for her own children. She was a stay-at-home mom for her four children and returned to the workforce when her husband passed away at an early age. She worked at Fitzgerald’s Foods, Horan’s Flower Shop, Brigadoon Tea Room, and finally retired from Aetna at age 70.

Edna found her second home her last 30 years of life at the Simsbury Senior Center. Edna, could be seen cruising through town in her blue Ford Escort Hatchback with an “Outrageous Older Woman” bumper sticker on the back. Every morning Edna’s first stop was at St. Mary’s for the rosary and Mass, then she was off to the Simsbury Senior Center. Her days were filled with aerobic classes, tai chi, tap dancing, ceramics, painting, stamping, and line-dancing where she would always request her favorite song “The Boot Scootin’ Boogie." She was a member of the Intonations, the Senior Center singing group and supplied fellow members with their performance flowers or scarves for their seasonal gigs. Wherever there was a need, Edna was there to help. She loved to volunteer on Super Tuesdays, arriving early to decorate tables with her own creations from the Dollar Tree and keeping order in the kitchen. She took over the job of collating the Senior Center Communicator Newsletter instructing helpers what to do and keeping a keen eye on those who didn’t tape or fold correctly. She joined St. Mary’s Bowling League in 1963. Through the years the league's name changed, but Edna's membership remained constant. Edna continued to bowl until she was 97 years old.

Edna was carried through life by her strong faith. She sat at the same pew every Sunday morning for the 11:00 o‘clock Mass. Even when her stamina failed her, she mustered up the strength to walk down the aisle to receive communion. A night never passed without her having a bowl of Edy's French Silk ice cream and saying the rosary with Mother Angelica. She loved being a mom, and a caregiver for her own mother who passed away at 100. One of Edna’s favorite family trips was the annual summer vacation at Lake Willoughby in VT. A tradition she carried on with her cherished grandchildren that included making them her signature scones and stuffed peppers in #9 Wheeler’s cabin, and whisking them off for a special treat at Miss Lyndonville Diner in Lyndonville, VT.

Edna was predeceased by her husband Henry and her son Michael. She is survived by her only daughter, Mary Beth Schreindorfer and her spouse Lisa Olivere of Simsbury, her sons, John Schreindorfer and his wife Mary of Vermont and Dan Schreindorfer and his wife Gloria of Oregon. She was grandma to her 7 grandchildren Brendan Schreindorfer, Sarah Toof, Mary Kay Schreindorfer, Kelly Sargent, Brydie Cleveland, Mahealani Schreindorfer and Chad Schreindorfer. Edna also had 17 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren. A special thank you to her loving companion/friend Lynn Skoglund and her biggest cheerleader Mary Root. Gratitude to Dr. Sarah Dainiak, Johanna Cahill, PA-C and the Farmington Valley VNA for their tender care.

Visitation will be held at the Vincent Funeral Home, 880 Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury on Wednesday, August 10th from 9:30 AM-10:30 AM followed by an 11:00 AM Mass at St. Mary’s Church in Simsbury. Burial will follow in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Tariffville. Gifts in her memory can be made to the Simsbury Senior Center, 754 Hopmeadow St. or St. Mary’s Church, 942 Hopmeadow St. Simsbury, CT. 06070 Please visit her Book of Memories at www.vincentfuneralhome.com for online tributes.