Mary J. Shults, born Feb. 17, 1931, died Aug. 10, 2024. She was predeceased by her parents, Edward J and Irene (Yohonn) Shults, as well as by her brothers Alvin and Victor Shults. She is survived by her 103 year old cousin, best friend, and neighbor, Irene Silver. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law, Joyce Shults and Pat Shults. Additionally, survivors include her nieces, Carol Phillips and Julie Shults, her nephews, Ed (Ginny) Shults and Michael (Larisa) Shults. Her great-niece, Sharon Scherer (Ryan), her Goddaughter, has been her guardian angel for several years. Other great nieces include Jessica (Rey) Figueroa, Lisa (Rocco) Muffoletto, and Arwen Turner as well as a great-nephews, Christopher Shults, Richard Shults, and Michael (Christy) Shults. Great great nephew, Kayden and great great nieces Julia and Elizabeth. A very special cousin, Joan (Paul) Klobusicky, provided Mary with countless visits.
Mary grew up in Egypt at the house her parents built in 1931. She resided and thrived there for the duration of her life. Mary graduated from Nazareth College, after which she pursued a career in teaching Latin. She spent most of that time at Monroe High School in Rochester, NY. Mary had a love for education and really enjoyed reading all kinds of literature.
Mary had a love for nature, especially birds and enjoyed watching the Martin birds come each year to the house she provided them in her yard. She enjoyed planting her flower gardens and creating exquisite landscapes each spring. She was known for being very meticulous about caring for her family homestead and took great pride in maintaining a beautiful lawn that was admired by many. While out tending to her yard she often would welcome visits from neighboring friends and people walking by with their kids and their pets. She will be remembered by many for her warm smile, caring heart and immense generosity.
Calling Hours will be held on Monday, August 19th from 4-6 p.m. at Keenan Funeral Home, 7501 Pittsford-Palmyra Rd., Fairport, NY. A Mass of Christian burial will occur on Tuesday, August 20th at 9:30 a.m. at St. Louis Catholic Church, 64 Main St., Pittsford, NY. Private burial will be held at Holy Sepulchre Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mary’s name to Hope Hall School, 1612 Buffalo Rd. Rochester, NY 14624.
Comments
6 responses to “Shults, Mary Jane”
Miss Shults was my Latin teacher at Monroe for three years. She was a wonderful teacher and inspired me to go into teaching! I was just talking to someone about her a while ago….What a wonderful person she was…..
I was also a student of Miss Shults at Monroe High School. For 5 years, 8-12th grade, I was so lucky that she was my teacher. She was a gem. She made learning Latin so much fun. I still remember dressing up in togas for our annual class toga party. Latin was not a dead language to us. Her teaching not only enabled me to satisfy my full language requirement in college, but I still have a strong interest in Roman and Greek culture and archeology. She is one of the brightest memories that I have from high school.
I was neighbors with Mary and loved our regular chats in her yard. She loved talking about how green the grass was in the spring, how much she enjoyed a not-too-hot summer day, worrying about all the leaves in the fall and dreading the upcoming winter. I agreed completely! I’ll miss seeing her outside of her beautiful home.
In the fall of 1962 I was a Senior at Nazareth College . I was a Latin major and French minor. It was practicing teaching time. New York State required a 2 month time period with a certified teacher in your major subject. I was placed at Monroe High School in Rochester, N.Y.. I was assigned to a Master Teacher, Miss Mary J. Shults. What a wonderful person, teacher, confidant and friend I met in November 1962!!! What a role model she was!! She was everything I wanted to be , How fortunate I was! She was a confident, caring, intelligent,humorous and effective teacher. She was just what I wanted to be! I learned so much from her . I observed her daily for 5 different classes for one week.After the school day was over , we chatted for hours about classroom management, planning lessons, engaging students in learning and encouraging the students in every way possible to be successful in a classroom . Need I tell you it was the BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD? It was because MIss Shults was the best teacher I EVER HAD.I learned so much from her.
WE were colleagues and friends from those eights weeks in 1962 to her death in 2024. May God watch over her in heaven. Thank you, MARY J. SHULTS.
Miss Schults was my Latin teacher at Monroe High School. I am saddened by her passing. She was a wonderful caring teacher . I remember her knowledge history which she included in her Latin class. Oscar
I had Miss Shults for four years at Monroe High School. She cared about her students and was a kind teacher. She made Latin fun to learn and got the most out of her students. She made Latin my favorite subject and of all the teachers I had there, she was the best. She made every one of her students feel special.