The Villages, Florida – Mary Jane (nee: Bentz) Schwarm, 85, passed away at The Villages Hospice House on Monday, October 17, 2016. She was born in Racine on March 23, 1931, daughter of the late Clifford and Leona (nee: Lui) Bentz.  Mary Jane married the love of her life, Sherwood Schwarm, on February 5, 1949.

Mary Jane was a Racine area resident for most of her life, until they moved to The Villages, FL in 2000. She was a long time member of Holy Name Catholic Church (now St. Richard's) and served as past president of Christian Mothers and was a member of the Catholic Junior League of Racine.  She volunteered at Habitat for Humanity and did environmental work in Mt. Pleasant.  Mary Jane was a loan officer at the Racine Municipal Employees Credit Union, retiring in 1993. She was currently a member of St. Timothy's Catholic Church in The Villages. While in the Villages, she was past treasurer of the Wisconsin Club and enjoyed membership in the Red Hat Society, and volunteering at St. Vincent de Paul and Habitat for Humanity.

Mary Jane dedicated her life to the Lord and followed His ways with kindness and love.  Anyone who knew her enjoyed her beautiful smile. Mary Jane will be remembered for her love and devotion to her family.

Mary Jane is survived by her loving husband of 67 years, Sherwood Schwarm; her children Jacqueline (Thomas) Oettinger, Kirt (Lynn)Schwarm, Joni (Paul) Brock, Kevin (Susan) Schwarm, Ken (Suzi) Schwarm, Kyle (Sue) Schwarm, and Jill (Steve) Hrycay; brothers Cliff (Dorothy) Bentz, Peter (Dottie) Bentz, Ron (Sheila) Bentz, Dan (Judy) Bentz, and Tom (Marie) Bentz; sisters Kathy Bentz (Roger) Panyk, and Linda (Tom) Hempel; sister-in-law Joyce Schwarm; brother-in-law Don (Elaine) Longmore; 23 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. All will miss her greatly.  Mary Jane was preceded in death by her daughter Jeri Chaves; sisters Shirley Dallmann-Longmore and Doris Mack; brother John Bentz; father-in-law and mother-in-law Ernest and Julia Schwarm; brothers-in-law Auggie Schwarm and Walter "Bud" Schwarm.

Funeral services will be held at St. Richard Catholic Church (1503 Grand Avenue) on Friday, October 28, 2016 with her funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Caledonia. Visitation in the church Thursday evening from 4pm-7pm; and on Friday beginning at 10 a.m. Memorials to St. Richard Catholic Church have been suggested.

Service Details

Thursday, October 27th:

Visitation at St. Richard Catholic Church (1503 Grand Avenue) from 4pm-7pm

Friday, October 28th:

Visitation at St. Richard Catholic Church (1503 Grand Avenue) at 10am

Funeral mass at 11am

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