Mary Lou Ederer

Life-long Thomas Township resident passed away peacefully at Toni & Trish House on May 25, 2024, ending her lengthy courageous battle with melanoma cancer.

Mary Lou Ederer was born on May 13, 1940 in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Edward & Erna Frank Ederer.  She graduated from Arthur Hill High School in 1958; Bay City Junior College in 1960 with Associate of Arts; Central Michigan University with State Limited Certificate in 1960 and Bachelor of Arts in 1963; Michigan State University with Master of Arts in Reading in 1966 and Specialist in Elementary Education in 1971.Mary Lou has been a life-long member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church.

Mary Lou was employed with the Swan Valley School District for 40 years. She taught first grade at Shields Elementary beginning in 1960. She became the District's Remedial Reading Teacher and Title I Coordinator from 1967 to 1971. In 1971she became the first principal of Robert B. Havens Elementary School and served until retiring in 2000. She also directed the Scooby Doo Pre-School program from 1983 until 2000. Mary Lou directed the READ Association Program for the Swan Valley School District for 47 years. She began it at Havens School using Swan Valley High School students as mentors. After retiring, she continued the program at Shields Elementary School. She could diagnose and solve children's reading problems. She often volunteered her own time to tutor children with their individual reading problems.  As a long-time member of Delta Kappa Gamma's Beta Pi Chapter, she held many positions including president, and was awarded the Woman of Distinction Award in 1979. She also served as president of the Friends of the Public Libraries of Saginaw and the Saginaw Valley Humanities Lecture Committee. She also volunteered for the Saginaw Community Foundation, Covenant Healthcare, and Saginaw County Fair.

Mary held life memberships in the National and Michigan Education Associations, Elementary School Principals, and several Reading and Mathematics Associations. She was a Michigan certified elementary permanent teacher and administrative professional.  She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and tatting and winning ribbons at the Saginaw County Fair.

She was predeceased by her sister, Ruth Ederer. Surviving are her sister, Roselynn Ederer, and Special Friends, more like a son, Loren and Carmen Hartman and family.

We wish to thank all the many nurses from Covenant VNA and Hospice who came weekly for more than a year to care for Mary, and the Toni & Trish House for their wonderful care.

No services are planned at this time.  Private interment has taken place at Roselawn Memorial Gardens.  If you wish to express condolences, you many consider Holy Cross Lutheran Church, READ Association, Thomas Township Library, and Toni & Trish House. Arrangements entrusted to W. L. Case and Company Funeral Directors.  Please share your words of condolences with the family at www.casefuneralhome.com