In Memory
Mary Schumaker Hintz
April 13, 1935 ~ April 18, 2025 (age 90)
Mary Schumaker Hintz, 90, formerly of Granger, Indiana, known to some as Mary, Missy, “Mithy”, Mom, and Mimi died at her apartment at Story Point, in East Lansing, Michigan on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. She was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on April 13, 1935, to Dr. Eugene Schumaker and Ruth (Sandwell) Schumaker. She is survived by son John P. Hintz and daughter-in-law Kristen B. Hintz of East Lansing, Michigan, grandson Patrick B. Hintz of Boston, Massachusetts, and grandson Robert A. Hintz of East Lansing, Michigan.
After being born in Sioux Falls, Mary and her parents matriculated to Terre Haute, Indiana, and later to Rensselaer, Indiana, where her father practiced medicine until his death in 1944. Mary attended St. Mary’s Academy in South Bend, Indiana, where she graduated and later attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. After later transferring to Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana, she met the love of her life, a color-blind John L. Hintz, in an art class in 1956, and they married on July 12, 1958.
Upon relocating to Connersville, Ohio, after graduation and marriage, where she taught young Buckeyes to avoid dangling participles and to write in the active voice, she and John later moved to South Bend, Indiana, where Mary taught English for many years at Washington High School. While in South Bend/Granger, Indiana, she managed to learn tennis, golf, and bridge, none of them particularly well but she always managed to obtain great and patient partners to help her learn and enjoy the process. She made great friends and colleagues in South Bend, all of whom encouraged, challenged, and tolerated her. If you were a friend of Mary’s, she was always devoted to you and your family.
When she retired from Washington High School in 1994, she continued to read, obtain artificial joint replacements, travel the world, and pray for grandchildren. She continued to reside in Granger, Indiana until John passed in August 2021. After selling the house and her car, Mary moved to East Lansing, Michigan in June 2022 to be closer to her son and his family. While there, she attempted to start a bridge and book club as the only Notre Dame fan among many Spartans. She was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in March 2025.
A few days before her death, she held the hand of her upset son and said, “Don’t look at me that way.” While her last few days were certainly not easy, she continued to pray and be thankful for the many blessings she had received.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, May 3, 2025 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 52473 State Highway 933, South Bend, Indiana 46637. A Committal Service will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. A visitation will start at 11:00 a.m. before the Mass on Saturday in Christ the King Catholic Church.
Special appreciation and gratitude goes out to Story Point, Corso Care, and Corso Care Hospice. In her memory please donate to Christ Child Society of South Bend: Christchildsb.org or to the Casey Center Saint Joseph County: incacs.org
Kaniewski Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To send online condolences, please visit kaniewski.com
04/24/2025 DEC
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