Mary Schnabel

Mary Jane Schnabel (nee Shanner), 61, of Crown Point, Indiana, died on Saturday, September 23, 2006 in Zion, Illinois after a lengthy and heroic battle with cancer. Mary Jane served as director of the Rainbow Nursery School in Highland for eight years. She began her public school teaching career at Franklin Elementary School in Griffith and later joined the Hammond Public School system where she taught at Harding, Wilson and Maywood Elementary Schools. She was a member of HTF (Hammond Teacher's Federation). Mary Jane was also a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Crown Point where she was active in the Kinship Group. She was a model of Christian Faith. She was also a member of GFWC Ridgeland Federated Women's Club and served as Vice-President of Lake County Federation of Clubs and Secretary of the Indiana Federation of Clubs. In 2004, she was LEAD's recipient representing Indiana Federation of Women's Clubs at the GFWC International Convention in Orlando, Florida. Mary Jane is preceded in death by her parents Charles and Thelma Shanner. She is survived by her loving daughter Jennifer (Jim) Leighty and her grandson Cameron of Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin; sisters Betty (Ken) Hardin of Ocala, Florida and Barbara (Al) Conaway of Hobart, Indiana; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 30, 2006 at 11:00 a.m. at the Bethel Baptist Church, 10202 Broadway Avenue, Crown Point, Indiana 46309 (219-663-9200). In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to Bethel Baptist Church has been suggested.