Mary K. Schreiber (Kavanagh)

Mary Kavanagh Schreiber, 66, passed away on Friday, September 30, 2016. She is survived by her husband, Michael J. Schreiber of New Freedom; daughter, Jeanette D. Schreiber of Oklahoma City; and three siblings, Peter Kavanagh of Baltimore, Dorothy Hofstetter of New Freedom, and Jean Ordo̱ez, of Imperial Beach, Calif. Mary was preceded in death by siblings, Jacqueline Reames and Betty Gray. Mary spent her life caring for others, as a wife, mother, sister, teacher and friend. After 34 years of instructing young minds in the Baltimore County Public Schools, she retired in 2005 and found many ways to stay as busy as when she was working. Many will remember her love of cooking and baking; any occasion could be brightened with her cookies, any family gathering made more enjoyable with her delicious menus. An avid reader, Mary enjoyed a good mystery or thriller novel, but also kept up-to-date with current affairs. As a teacher, she was always learning new things, but she also had an interest in the past Рher favorite subjects to teach were history and geology. Her love for history had her proclaim once to her daughter, "I will never live anywhere but one of the 13 original colonies." Mary's sense of humor was well-appreciated by her family and friends. Her quick wit, mixed with a healthy dose of sarcasm, found Mary and Mike laughing a lot during their 43 years of marriage. In addition to her humor, Mary's compassion and thoughtfulness will be most missed by those that love her. Every meal made, every gift given, every music playlist composed were done with the utmost care and thoroughness to personalize the experience for the recipient. She showed her love for family and friends with her unmatched attention to detail and ability to listen. A season patron of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Hippodrome Broadway Series, Mary loved music and theater. She always had a playlist ready for herself or a friend. Mary made "mix tapes" cool again with a vast knowledge of music genres and time-periods, including the most current artists and sounds (many of which she introduced her daughter to!). In recent years, Mary became a frequent visitor to the gym and yoga studio. When she wasn't cooking, visiting friends, tutoring or going to the gym, you could find her at home with Mike and their two cats, Razzy and Spot, watching Netflix or the news. A fierce advocate for those she loved, Mary always had a solution to a problem or a shoulder to cry on. Her support and loyalty have touched many throughout her life. Her absence will be felt acutely by those she touched. There will be a visitation on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016, from 2 till 4 p.m. and 6 till 8 p.m., and on Friday, Oct. 7, 2016, from 2 till 4 p.m. at J.J. Hartenstein Mortuary, Inc., 24 N. Second St., New Freedom, PA 17349. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Four Diamonds at Penn State Children's Hospital, 90 Hope Drive, A120, P.O. Box 852, Hershey, PA 17033 or online at http://www.fourdiamonds.org.