Mary Teresa Schroeder, nee Balestri, 57, of Mascoutah, IL born Dec. 2, 1954 in LaSalle, IL, died Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, Cookeville, TN.

Mary was an attorney for the Schroeder and Schroeder Law Firm in Mascoutah for 32 years. During her years of service, Mary took a particular pride in ensuring the well-being of all her clients. She graduated in 1972 from LaSalle-Peru High School. Continuing her education she graduated from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL where she majored in history. She was in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and graduated from St. Louis University School of Law in 1980. She was a member of Holy Childhood Catholic Church, Holy Childhood Church Board, Mascoutah Lioness Club, Main Street Mascoutah and Mascoutah Chamber of Commerce. Serving all these organizations, Mary held many official capacities.

She was preceded in death by her father Aldo J. Balestri, father-in-law, Meryl T. Schroeder, sister-in-law, Diane Balestri and a brother-in-law, Robert Connolly.

Surviving are her husband, Kent T. Schroeder who she married at Holy Rosary Church in LaSalle, IL by Fr. Ed Bawiec and Rev. Charles Sheffield on Sept. 27, 1980; two sons, Matthew (Jiyeon) Schroeder of Cheongju, South Korea and Gregory J. Schroeder of Milwaukee, WI; a granddaughter, Hana Schroeder; her mother, Secondena, nee Vallero, Balestri of LaSalle, IL; three brothers, John (Maria) Balestri and William (Margaret) Balestri, both of LaSalle, IL and Charles Balestri of Princeton, NJ; mother-in-law, Pat Schroeder of Mascoutah, IL, sister-in-law, Kay Connolly of Mascoutah, IL; nieces and nephews, Alisa (Chris) Clancy, Cristina (Mark) Murray, Nick Balestri, Michael (Courtney) Balestri, Mark (Emily) Balestri, Luke Balestri, Gina Balestri, Leo Balestri, Carlo (Sophia) Balestri, Ryan (Meilani) Connolly and Kristin Connolly; great nieces and great nephews, Liam Clancy, Jake and Ryan Murray, Ava, Landon and Logan Balestri, Bradyn Balestri, Sebastian Balestri and Christopher and Timothy Connolly.

Memorials may be made to Holy Childhood School or Mascoutah Lioness Tree of Hope, P.O. Box 138, Mascoutah, IL 62258 or American Cancer Society.