ETHEL VERONICA (ROONEY) SCHOOLS LITTLETON – Ethel Veronica (Rooney) Schools, age 94, passed away surrounded by family on Saturday, May 20, 2017, at home where she lived with her daughter Hannah in Houlton. Ethel was born on April 3, 1923, in Littleton, the daughter of Ralph and Bernice (Haggerty) Rooney.
Ethel attended Bowdoin Street School in Houlton through eighth grade and then stayed home to do the bookkeeping for her father’s business and to help her mother with the care of her three little brothers. Years later Ethel attended adult education classes at Houlton High School and obtained her GED which gave her great pride in her accomplishment. Ethel met her husband Lawrence Schools Sr. at a dance and they married in 1941. They lived on the Schools family farm in Littleton where they raised ten children. Ethel was a devoted wife and mother. In addition to caring for her large family, she worked tirelessly on the farm planting and harvesting potatoes, and tending farm animals. She exchanged eggs, butter, and buttermilk, for flour and sugar at the North Store in Houlton. Ethel made bread twice a week and was known for her chocolate cake and donuts. She canned all the family vegetables and cooked for her large family as well as hired hands.
Ethel was involved in community activities. She supported the Littleton PTO when her children were in school. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary of the Visitation church and a member of the Houlton Council of Catholic Women. She co-chaired the candy booth at the St. Patrick’s Bazaar. She worked for the Maine Glove Factory in Littleton and for Smith and Wesson in Houlton. After Smith and Wesson, Ethel worked for Mitchell Small as a nanny for his son and remained Nana Schools to Aaron and his brother Ben. She worked at Andy’s IGA and volunteered at the Houlton Regional Hospital gift shop, and at St. Mary’s Good as New store. Ethel enjoyed sewing aprons, towels, and pot holders to give her family and friends. She had a table at the Christian School Christmas Fair where she was affectionately known as the apron lady.
Ethel lived in Houlton at the Four Seasons Village for twenty-seven years, then she moved in with her daughter Hannah. She was always happiest when surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was a sweet, kind, gentle lady and the fulfillment of her life centered around her family and her Catholic faith. Ethel was a patriotic lady with a special place in her heart for military people as she lost her brother in WWII. Every Memorial Day she attended the service held on Soldier Hill and never missed the 4th of July parade. Ethel loved music and sang to her children in her younger years and to her care givers in her elder years. She enjoyed dancing and playing cards, especially 45s.
Ethel was predeceased by her parents, her husband Lawrence in 1989, her most beloved son Thomas Schools in 1999, sons-in-law Murray Williams and Darrell Glidden, brothers Lawrence and Ralph Rooney, sisters Laura Briggs and Leona Clark. Also, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Milford Clark, Anna Schools, Alice and James McLaughlin, Josephine and Ralph McAtee, Geraldine and Elmer McConnell, Bernard and Grace Schools. Also many nieces and nephews.
Ethel is survived by her children Judith Williams of Bangor, Hannah Glidden and Ethel Mersereau of Houlton, Ruth Plourde of Hermon, Alice Fann of Albion, Joyce Schools of Sanford, FL, Lawrence Schools Jr., Gregory Schools and David Schools of Littleton, and her daughters-in-law Gail Schools Turner, Leslie Schools and Kristina Schools and sons-in-law John Plourde, Malcolm Mersereau and Arville Fann. She is also survived by her grandchildren Debbie, Heather, Danny, Murray, Michele, Cheryl, Darrick, John Jr., Jason, Meredith, Rachel, Mary, Michael, Allen J, Wayne, Thomas, Gregory, Anna, Laura, Megan and Courtney, their spouses and families, including her thirty-five great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law John and Dawna Rooney of Mapleton, Marim and Ruth Rooney of Hermon. Many nieces and nephews including three Goddaughters Bernice Tidd, Patricia McConnell and Jane Stile and a special niece Janet Barker who lived with the family during college and always remained close to her.
The family would like to especially thank our cousin Karen Theriault Woodbury for helping Hannah with loving care for Mom. Thank you to Nicole Siepmann, Dr. Abouleish, and Father Dave Raymond for his spiritual presence. Additionally we would like to thank the care givers from Home Care of Maine, Aroostook Home Health, Purple Empire, and Madigan Home Nursing for the wonderful care provided to Mom.
Friends may call 6-8 p.m. Tuesday May 23, 2017, at the Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton. A Mass Of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday May 24 at St. Mary of the Visitation Church, Houlton, with the Rev. David Raymond celebrant. Interment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Smryna St. A time of refreshment will take place in the church fellowship hall following the committal. Those who wish may make gifts in Ethel’s memory payable to Saint Mary of the Visitation Church or The Southern Aroostook Agricultural Museum or the charity of one’s choice c/o Dunn Funeral Home, 11 Park St., Houlton, ME 04730. Online condolences and guest book: dunnfuneral.com
