Lenore Ann Schuster

Aunt Dot and Uncle Gerald of “JoAnn”; which she used for most of her life. Raised on a farm in

her early years, she was the third girl in a family of eight. She was “perky”, a redhead, loved

school, made up stories for her youngest sister Babs and enjoyed making up plays with her

sisters in their backyard.

During the Depression, her family moved to Bemidji, MN, where her father ran a confectioners store. She excelled in high school, was valedictorian and her short hand teacher advanced her money to attend Moorehead State Teachers College.

She was a member of Psi Delta Kappa, Sigma Tau Delta, Education Commissioner, Geo. Council, Newman Club President, Biology Club, Lambda Phi Sigma and Who’s Who of American Teacher’s Colleges. She taught high school for a year in Idaho, returned to Portland, Oregon and joined the Waves. She was a link trainer operator for Navy pilots during WWII.

After the war she lived in San Francisco with three of her Navy girlfriends, working as a secretary. She returned to Portland to complete her education at Portland University and was introduced to her future husband, Dan, by Lillian (Brozene) Schuster. They married a year later in February 1950 and their first child, Teresa Ann was born in 1951. She loved being a mother and wife, was very creative with her children in arts and crafts, reading poetry and stories, helping them use their imagination and become responsible and giving people. She often joined her large family for picnics, Christmas parties and Sundays after Mass at her mother and father’s home in North Portland.

She taught special education at Woodlawn Elementary in Portland for many years. She and her husband bought 40 acres on Larch Mountain; which became a haven of natural beauty, spiritual renewal and big family cookouts. She was a devout Catholic, member of Holy Redeemer parish, made sure her children received a Catholic education and recently a member of St. Anthony’s parish in Tigard, OR. Like her mother, she emphasized saying the Rosary to Our Blessed Mother. After her husband died, she taught herself calligraphy, painted in watercolors, learned Spanish, and taught English as a Second Language in her home to students of all ethnic backgrounds. She was always concerned for the welfare of others, and even in her last place of residence at Cedar Crest she would care for the other residents by making sure they were comfortable. She was especially proud of all the accomplishments of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Here are some quotes to her by those near and dear to her.

“When everyone I turned to

Turned away. . .

You were still there

Now I say Thank you

For your Faith.”

Grandson

“My first memories stem to the age of three at Grandma’s old house. My favorite game was hide and seek, in which I locked Grandma and Grandpa in the playroom and then run and hide as they chased me down the hall. “

Granddaughter

“Ocean breezes send your kite soaring, then plummeting to the ground, try, try again.”

“Voices echoing tradition as we sing “camping tonight on the old camp ground”

Granddaughter

“When I was really little and afraid to go to sleep alone at night, I remember the bedtime stories and songs, and always the prayers we shared. Often you would patiently lie with me until I drifted off to sleep. Sometimes, after you left, I would sneak to that register in the upstairs hall. And lying there looking down at you in the kitchen below, my fears would dissolve, you were my security”

Daughter

“Camping and the outdoor world of nature; sharing the “property” with my children waking up in a warm sleeping bag surrounded by the family and cooking pancakes for breakfast with fresh picked huckleberries in them”

Daughter

“I remember making Easter baskets for you and Dad. Buying you candy with my allowance, earned by mowing the grass. Then using real grass for the basket (I had to make do). You taught me how to give from a very tender age and it has become a trademark of my life. The one thing, above all others, that makes it easier to look in the mirror. “

Son

“One of the best memories is sharing the wonderful trip to El Salvador with you, joining in the Franciscan in spirit and fun-filled life, the wonderful hospitality, cold showers, beans and rice, moving stories of tragic experiences, hope and life.”

Sister

“Life was simple in Waubun. Radio wasn’t yet so great, but we owned a Victrola and cowboy records, excuse me, Country Western. You liked to put on skits, probably scenes from Shirley Temple movies. When I was about four you had me smear molasses on my face to perform in some play on a homemade stage. My reward was penny candy from Dad’s store – then in our home as it was slowly wiped out by the Depression.”

Sister

“A package of Chesterfields sent back and forth in the mail. But most important, in times of crisis, (good or bad) you were always there to “sound off” to. And we spent lots of time doing just that.”

Sister

“School was a very positive activity for her. She went to Waubun middle and high school. She loved math and science and looked to her teachers like they were heroes. For her they were heroes and role models. She wished to be one of them; to be someone’s hero.”

Grandson

“I have many fond memories of things we did. Walking on the Indian trails on the banks of the Bemidji lake. Peanut butter sandwiches and Kool-Aid. Skating in the winter with two pairs of skates shared by the family, (the size was adjusted by adding or subtracting socks.)”

Brother

“We all went to the all school reunion in Waubun and Mahnomen 1995. You remembered a lot of people and history better than we did. We enjoyed touring the houses we used to live in and other landmarks of our youth. I thought it especially fun re exploring the trails down along the lake below the house where we lived in Bemidji.”

Brother

“The property is the place in my heart I go when I need peace—the memories are alive and tangible, the trees smell sweeter, the sky is bright and I can hear the creek roaring. My mother isn’t any age on that property. She is wandering around picking wildflowers, her hair tied in a scarf, holding all the colors of nature in her arms—and smiling, always smiling.”

Daughter

“Grandma recently flew to Miami to listen to my recital. It had been almost three years since I had seen her. Before this visit, I had always seen Grandma as a wonderful person. But this time I saw her from a different perspective, I saw a graceful, positive, radiant person with much love in her heart. I saw a strong person with the courage to travel to foreign countries and who is not afraid to teach and learn. And a person who perseveres to hold our family heritage together. “

Grandson

“I remember Rockaway beach. You took all the grandchildren out and we flew kites. We would tie messages on the strings and send them up to heaven. We would visit the small tide pools and look at all of the sea urchins and star fish that had made their homes up and down the rocks along the jetty.”

Grandson

Lenore is survived by two sisters and one brother, four children, nine grandchildren, eight great grandchildren and a large extended family. She will be truly missed, but will live on in our hearts and memories.