Mary Karen Bates-Schulz

Mary Karen Bates-Schulz, age 54, of Toledo, was united with Christ Monday, February the 1st, 2010, at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg, due to small cell lung cancer. Mary was born in Toledo on November 17, 1955, to James R. and Lenore M. (Wernert) Bates. The youngest of three children, Mary graduated from Start High School in 1973, and continued her education at the Northwest Ohio Practical Nursing School. She received her LPN in 1975, and began her career working the night shift at St. Vincent's Hospital in the Pediatric Unit. She transferred to the Burn Unit in 1976, where she worked for the next 34 years. During this time, Mary went back to school to obtain her RN degree at the Mercy School of Nursing. After taking a hiatus to have her third child, she returned to finish Valedictorian of her class and graduate in 1986. Over the next 34 years she was involved in mentoring, precepting, and educating nursing students, EMS students, and fellow RNs. She also received her Burn Certificate (Advanced Burn Life Support); was active in the Aluminum Cans for Burn Children and Burn Support Group; attended numerous seminars, such as the World Burn Conference put on by the American Burn Association; and was recently working with St. Vincent's in obtaining Burn Unit verification. She enjoyed spending time at her lake cottage in Indiana, gardening, as well as playing cards with family and friends, and traveling. An amazing wife, mother, grandmother, and nurse, she was known as an "angel" to many. Mary will be greatly missed by her loving husband of 32 years, Gary A. Schulz; sons, Todd Schulz (Dynah), Troy Schulz, and daughter, Jena Schulz. She is also survived by her mother, Lenore M. Bates; sister, Sister Joyce Marie, SND, and brother, James B. Bates (Marcia), four grandchildren, Tyler, Olivia, Morgan, and Layton Schulz, as well as the loving and supportive friends of the family Allison White, Joshua Stuckey, "mentor" Dr. Michael Yanik, Diana Krontz, Becky Ingram, and the rest of the Burn Unit family. She was preceded in death by her father, James R. Bates. Visitation will be at the Ansberg-West Funeral Home, 3000 W. Sylvania Avenue, from 2-8 p.m., Thursday, with sharing of memories and Rosary prayer service at 7 p.m. On Friday, prayers will begin at 10:30 a.m. , from the funeral home followed by the celebration of the Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Parish, 4255 Bellevue Road. Those who wish to donate memorial contributions, in Mary's memory, may do so to the Mary Bates-Schulz Scholarship Fund (envelopes will be available at the funeral home). The family extends their deepest gratitude for the exceptional care given to Mary by the nurses and doctors at St. Anne's Mercy Hospital and Hospice of Northwest Ohio (Perrysburg).

Mary Karen Bates-Schulz

November 17, 1955 - February 1, 2010