The funeral for Lucille F. Schemmel will be at 1:00 PM, Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Rochester, with Father Paul Nelson officiating.   Burial will be in Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Tuesday, March 25, 2014,  in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Mom died Saturday (March 22, 2014) 3 weeks shy of her 95 ^th birthday, at Samaritan Bethany Arbor Terrace, where she had lived the past 3 years.   The family extends a special thank you to her caregivers for their loving care.

Lucille was born April 17, 1919, in Bellechester, MN, the daughter of Anton and Cecilia (Strauss) Jansen.   She lived in Hammond, MN, until the family moved to a farm southeast of Rochester in 1932, and then into the city.   She graduated from Rochester High School (Lourdes) in 1936.   On September 26, 1942, she married Russell Edward Schemmel at St. John's Catholic Church in Rochester; they were together until his death in 1997.    They lived in Langley Field, VA, while Dad served in the US Army Air Force, and their first 2 sons were born there.    After his discharge, they returned to Rochester where their daughter and 3 ^rd son were born.   She worked over 25 years at the Mayo Clinic, retiring in 1981.   She participated in Mayo's Study of Aging in her later years, and many times was awarded the medal for the longest surviving cancer patient at their annual event.

Mom was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sister.   She had a wonderful sense of humor.  After retirement, they loved to travel, especially to visit their children and grandchildren.   They also enjoyed trips to Germany and winter visits with friends in warmer climates.  We all loved our family gatherings at Minnesota lake resorts.   She especially loved being with her great grandchildren!  She liked playing cards, bingo, cribbage and gardening.   She did love to dance!  She was a long-time volunteer at Samaritan Bethany Heights and Assisi Heights, continuing into her early 90's.  Mom always felt it was her gift to visit the sick and elderly.  She and Dad were proud of being founding members of St. Pius Church and supporters of Catholic education.  She was very strong in her faith and prayed daily.    We are thankful for the church volunteers who ministered to her at Arbor Terrace.

Survivors include her children, Ronald (Elaine) Schemmel, Savage, MN, Richard (Sharon) Schemmel, Charlottesville, VA, Deanne "Dee" Schemmel, Rochester, and Gary (Kathy) Schemmel, Richmond, VA; 8 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her sister, Alice (Kenneth) Talcott, Cottage Grove, MN and sister-in-law, Elva "Tootie" McFarlin of Rochester, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brothers Lawrence and Norbert, and special friend Leonard McCoy.

Memorials are suggested to Lourdes High School or St. Pius X Catholic Church.  Online condolences are welcome at mackenfuneralhome.com.