Mary Denise K. (Fenerty) Schneider

Mary Denise K. (Fenerty) Schneider passed away peacefully at home on Friday, 20 May 2022 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Beloved wife of Robert W. Schneider, she was born in Philadelphia, PA on 11 September 1951 to parents Ethel and Joseph Fenerty. She attended St. Matthew's Catholic School and was proud to be a Bambi, an alumna of St. Hubert's Catholic High School for Girls. She was an activist for workers' rights, playing an instrumental role in the passage of the Pennsylvania Worker and Community Right to Know Act (H.B. 1236) in 1984. She was also a lifelong advocate for disability rights, especially for intellectually disabled adults. She was a talented seamstress who sewed her own bridesmaids' dresses and children's Halloween costumes. She also loved painting ceramics and made many lifelong friends at her weekly ceramics class while working on pieces that she would give as gifts or display at home. A devout Irish Catholic, she was a longtime member of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians (LAOH), serving as President from 1996 until 1998. She

was also a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church. She loved her family and friends relentlessly,

marking each of their birthdays and anniversaries on her Mary Engelbreit wall calendar at the start of each new year. She and her husband recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mary Denise is preceded in death by her son, Robert (Rory) J. Schneider, and her brother, Joseph F. Fenerty. She is survived by her husband; daughter, Mary Kate Schneider of

Baltimore, MD; sister, Bernadette Fenerty of Baton Rouge, LA; brother, Michael Fenerty of Ebensburg, PA; 10 nieces; 4 nephews, and 17 great-nieces and nephews.

A viewing will take place on Tuesday, 24 May from 9:30-10:30 AM at Schantz Funeral Home,

250 Main Street, Emmaus, PA. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at St. Ann Church in Emmaus, PA at 11 AM. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, 5201 Hulmeville Road, Bensalem, PA. Contributions: in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary Denise's memory to St. Ann School in Emmaus, PA (435 S.

6th Street, Emmaus, PA 18049)