Mary Ann Brockschmidt

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Casa Teresa: P.O. Box 429, Orange, CA 92856, or St. John’s Seminary: 5012 Seminary Rd, Camarillo, CA 93012.

Mary Ann (Carr) Brockschmidt passed away peacefully on May 21, 2024, at the age of 88.  Born in Chicago, Illinois to Irish parents, she was the second oldest of the family’s nine children – three girls and six boys – all of whom she loved and adored.  She attended only Catholic schools from grade school through her one year at Marygrove College in Detroit, where she aspired to become an elementary school teacher.  Unable to finance her final three years of college, she returned home and found work in the accounting department at Inland Steele in Chicago.  It was during this time she reconnected with Don Brockschmidt, whom she had met in Catholic grade school, and they eventually married in September, 1958.  Mary and Don made moves to several states, due to Don’s work in the Aerospace industry, before they eventually settled permanently in California in 1973, with their five children, Susan, Sally, Ann, Lynne and Bill.

Mary was a devout Catholic who found her spiritual home at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, a parish to which she remained dedicated for more than fifty years.  Her devotion to her Catholic faith inspired her to volunteer in several positions, such as becoming a member of Casa Teresa, a sponsor in the Serra Club, and more. These many activities, including being a long-time member of Republican Women Federated, culminated in her forging life-long friendships and deepening her commitment to her parish, faith, and community. She fulfilled her teaching aspirations by teaching CCD at St. Cecilia’s and working as an aide for over twenty years at Nelson Elementary School.  While working as a school aide, Mary found further fulfilment by assuming a part-time position at an accounting firm where she further honed the skills she learned while a young woman working at Inland Steele.  She was proud of her Irish heritage, a true friend to all who knew her, a role model to many, and a constant force in the lives of her family members.  She will be sorely missed, but not forgotten.

Mary and her husband, Don, enjoyed more than 62 years of marriage before his death in 2021.  She was a dedicated mother to her five children, Susan (David), Sally (Vic), Ann (Jeff), Lynne (Jim) and Bill (Karina), and loving and doting to her twelve grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. 

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