Mary Ellen Schoonmaker
DOB June 9,1953 - DOD July 17,2015

Beloved wife of Patrick D. Schoonmaker passed away Friday evening after a long health battle at the age of 62.

Mary was born in Saugus, Massachusetts to Evelyn Brown Woodman and George Alburtis Woodman on June 9th 1953.

Mary and Patrick met through Patrick's sister Amani Stevens and were married in a Baha'i ceremony in 1973 on the grounds of Green Acre Baha'i school in Eliot, Maine.

Mary is the loving mother of four children. She gave birth to Gregory W. Schoonmaker and Nolan G. Schoonmaker before adopting identical twins, Jasmine J. Ence and Jennifer M. Jenny.

She became a nurse in 1976. Her nursing career spanned almost four decades, through multiple genres of nursing including; NICU, geriatrics, mental health, med surg, family mental health, and developmental disability.

Mary was very active in the mental health community. She was a national motivational speaker for families with children having behavioral/mental health issues. She created support groups where ever she lived, which helped shape the way US school systems aid children with behavioral/mental health issues in the classroom.

After moving to Colorado from Massachusetts in 1989 Mary's position as a volunteer with Boulder Community mental health transitioned into a full time job when she started a program called Therapeutic Home Based Services. This first of its kind program in Colorado gave respite to parents and mentors to children with mental illness.

Mary had many hobbies she loved. She had an amazing green thumb. Her gardens were always breathtaking. She shared her love of horses and animals with her family. Often adopting a stray dog, cat or horse, if she could not keep the animal herself she would find it a home for life. She loved the outdoors, and was rarely happier than when she was in the Glenwood Hot Springs Pool where she would vacation with her family and friends. Mary was no stranger around a kitchen. She delighted in mastering different cuisines, a passion she shared and passed on to her family.

One of the greatest moments in Mary's life was becoming a Grandma (Nanna), a role she filled with great love. She moved to Ashton, Idaho in July of 2014 with her husband, to be full time Grandparents.

Mary's beauty was only outshone by her amazing spirit. She was the kind of person who could brighten the day of a complete stranger and would take the time to do so. Her loving, gentle, courageous soul will be missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know her.

She is preceded in death by her father, George Woodman, her mother, Evelyn Woodman and her brother John Woodman. She is survived by her husband Patrick D. Schoonmaker, her children, Gregory W. Schoonmaker, Nolan G. Schoonmaker, Jasmine J. Ence, Jennifer M. Jenny, her grandson Emmett K. Ence, her brother Peter Hollis, her nephews and nieces Christopher Hollis,
Daniel Stevens, Katie Shaper, Lizzy Burger, Julie Hollis, Elizabeth Beck, Katie Hollis.

Mary will be cremated and her ashes will be buried in Pine View Cemetery in Ashton, ID as well a scattered in places she loved throughout her life. Her family is planning a small, private ceremony.