Mary Steeves Shern

Mary Steeves Shern, age 95, passed away Tuesday, April 19, 2016. Ms. Shern was born and raised in the New York City area but has also lived many years in Milwaukee, Honolulu, and Atlanta. While always remaining active in community and business, she was most proud of her role as wife and mother. Her seven children were followed by fifteen grandchildren, and eighteen great grandchildren, whom she deeply adored individually and collectively. Some of her hobbies earlier in life included sailing and tennis, and in her later life there was extensive travel and bridge. She was a graduate of Swarthmore College and continued her career which included Radio Soap Operas, TV, Real Estate Brokerage, Teaching, Writing and Public Speaking. She owned and operated several businesses, authored seven books and most recently taught and wrote for the Georgia Institute of Real Estate. She was very active in community affairs. She served on commissions for the Governors of both Wisconsin and Hawaii dedicated to the quality of life for Special Needs children. She was President of the Hawaii Association of Realtors in 1980, was a volunteer for the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996, and was active in the St George Community highlighted by her participation in the Village Singers. Among her several awards include: Georgia Real Estate Educator of the Year 1992; Atlanta Board of Realtors and National Association of Realtors awards as Realtor Emeritus and has also received the National Association of Realtors Lifetime Real Estate Educator Award.

She was preceded in death by her parents Guy C. Steeves and Mary Osborne Steeves, her sister Louette Steeves Per-lee of Arlington, Virginia and her children Guy C. Shern and Katherine M. Shern.

She is survived by her brother John F. Steeves of Savannah GA and her children Sally Shern Schaefer and her husband Greg Schaefer of Grand Junction, Colorado; John W. Shern and his wife Muggsie Shern of Atlanta, Georgia; Barbara Shern Burch and her husband Timm Burch of Grand Junction, Colorado; Susan Shern Wilder M.D. and her husband Bob Wilder of Scottsdale, Arizona; and Michael C. Shern of Atlanta, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in her name to Special Love Inc. for children with cancer at specialove.org.

The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 pm at Roswell Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30am Saturday April 30, 2016 at St. Peter Chanel Catholic Church, Roswell GA.