Mary C. Schultheis

Niskayuna, NY - Mary C. (O'Donnell) Schultheis, age 93, passed away peacefully on November 1, 2025.
Mary was born in Rochester, New York, to Frank J. and Gertrude (Menihan) O'Donnell. After graduating from Mercy High School in Rochester, she attended Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Her first teaching position was with the Irondequoit School District in New York.
In August 1955, she married James Schultheis. They initially lived in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Park Forest, Illinois before settling in Niskayuna, New York in 1959, when Jim accepted a position with the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory.
Mary, known to many as "Mickey", was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was always available to her family and friends. She enjoyed life, entertaining friends, and spending time with family, which, along with her faith, was the center of her life. Mary always looked forward to family gatherings during the holidays, annual vacations at Cape Cod, vacations at Canandaigua Lake, and winters in Delray Beach where family often visited. While Mary was a dedicated mother and homemaker to their five children, she always made time to volunteer for various causes. Mary served as a board member and president of the Schenectady Day Nursery, and she served as a board member of the Heritage Home for Women. Mary also volunteered through the Catholic churches of Our Lady of Fatima and St. Helen's. This included coordinating a group of volunteers that would deliver food and other necessities to those in need, teaching CCD, distributing the Eucharist at Mass, and participating in the Offertory Count Team. While her children were in school, Mary served as president of the Middle School Parent and Teacher Association. Mary had diverse interests as noted by her membership in several groups including AAUW, Mohawk Garden Club, Benedicts, a bridge club, an antiques group, and a gourmet group.
Mary had a strong faith, and she was a communicant of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Church in Schenectady and St. Vincent Ferrer church in Delray Beach, Florida.
Mary is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 64 years, James and sister-in-law Jo Ann Schultheis. Mary is survived by her five children: James (Patricia) Schultheis of Rochester, NY; Thomas Schultheis (Lynn Cooney) of Niskayuna, NY; Anne (John) Gould of Glen Ellyn, IL; Mark Schultheis (Nancy Stover) of Cincinnati; and Karen Schultheis of Niskayuna, NY. In addition, she has four grandchildren: Andrea (Joshua) Eppinger of Frederick, MD; Patrick Schultheis of Rochester, NY; Brian (Emma) Gould of State College, PA; and Cara Gould of Sykesville, MD. Mary also has a great-grandchild, Nora Eppinger. Other survivors include brother-in-law William Schultheis, nephews Michael (Candy) Schultheis, William (Trisha) Schultheis, Andrew (Caroline) Schultheis, Niece Linda (Neil) Schwenk, and several great nephews and nieces.
Calling hours are Friday, November 7 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church, 2216 Rosa Road, Schenectady. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 8 at 10:00 a.m. also at St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church - Rosa Road. Interment will be in Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery, Christ Our Savior Mausoleum, 2501 Troy-Schenectady Road, Niskayuna following Mass.
In lieu of flowers, Mary requested that memorial contributions be made to The Schenectady Day Nursery (online via schenectadydaynursery.org; by check mailed to Schenectady Day Nursery, 25 Lafayette Street Schenectady, NY 12305) or St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church (2216 Rosa Road, Schenectady, NY 12309).

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