Esther L. Schroeder

NEW CLEVELAND – Esther L. Schroeder, 85, of New Cleveland, passed away at 2:57 p.m. Saturday, May 25, 2024.  She was born December 15, 1938 in Putnam County to the late Joseph and Catherine (Drerup) Schulte. On May 30, 1959, she married Melvin E. Schroeder who died August 14, 2017.

Esther is survived by 6 children: Connie (Dan) Cassidy, Joe (Linda) Schroeder, Steve (Judy) Schroeder, all of Ottawa, Larry (Daisy) Schroeder, Rose (Pat) Inkrott, and Dennis (Laura) Schroeder, all of Leipsic; 1 brother: Thomas Schulte, 1 sister: Florence Sehlhorst, sisters in law: Maxine Schulte, Jeanne Schulte; brother in-law: George Seifried, 25 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, with 3 on the way.

She is preceded in death by one grandson: Zac Cassidy, one great-grandson: Dominic Schroeder; 8 siblings: Alvin (Eleanor) Schulte, Edward Schulte, Martha (Don) Doepker, Wilfrid (Angie) Schulte, Dolores (Scott) Boyer, Eleanor Seifried, Alice (Bill) Balas, and sisters in-law: Janice Schulte & brother in-law:  Henry Sehlhorst.

She was a CCD teacher for 20 years, a Putnam County Home Health Aide for 10 years, and a co-coordinator with her husband for Worldwide Marriage Encounter.  Her most cherished vocations were wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

A special thank you to all of her devoted caregivers. Your love, dedication and willingness to go over and above was a rare and beautiful gift, not only to her, but to all of her family. We are forever grateful.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2024 Holy Family Catholic Church, New Cleveland, officiated by Fr. Scott Perry. Burial will follow in church cemetery. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at LOVE-HEITMEYER FUNERAL HOME, Leipsic, where a scripture service will be held at 1:45 p.m. and a family rosary service at 7:45 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Family Catholic Church, Mount St. Mary's Seminary, Cincinnati, and Helping Hands of St. Louis, Toledo.