Mary Louise Schweikert

Mary Louise (Paoloni) Schweikert, 77, of Mifflinburg, died at 5:30 a.m., on April 22, 2024, at Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg, after living a full, inspiring and joyful life and defying all odds as a 70-year Type I diabetic.

Mary Louise was born on April 15, 1947, in Akron, Ohio, the oldest child and only daughter of the late Alexander J. Paoloni and Eva (Nedel) Paoloni.  She grew up in Kent, graduated second in her class from Theodore Roosevelt High School in 1965 and received her undergraduate degree from Kent State University in 1969, with a degree in Biology.  While at Kent State she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

Her graduate school plans were permanently put on hold when, after a chance meeting in the Kent State cafeteria, she met her future husband, G. Edward (Ged) Schweikert, III.  Mary Louise and Ged were married in 1972 and spent 38 years together until his death in 2008.  Ged’s path as a college professor led them to Central Pennsylvania where they fell in love with the area and never left.

Mary Louise and Ged’s only child, G. Edward (Gedd) Schweikert, IV, was born in 1973 and she happily stayed home until he was ready to go to school.  Not quite ready to unleash Gedd on the world alone, she and dear friend Sue Kodlick became preschool teachers.  

She met life-long friends-forever, Peggy Lauver, Del Kennedy, Sue Mathias, Lucie Stamos and many others through the River Valley Community School.

When Gedd was ready for elementary school, Mary Louise began a long and distinguished career of public service.

Over her lifetime, she served as a Program Coordinator for and, eventually, Director of the Union Snyder Foster Grandparent Program.  She was likely one of the youngest people to display a “happiness is being a grandparent” license plate frame on the back of her car.  

Her involvement on the local level led to a larger role as a lobbyist and all around FGP proponent on a National level.  She spent much time in Washington D.C. educating lawmakers, including testimony before Congress, about the benefits and successes of the program, all in the name of increased funding to provide even more opportunities for local Foster Grandparent programs.  The culmination of this chapter was attending President Clinton’s inauguration, the Pennsylvania Inaugural Ball and being interviewed by Katie Couric on the Today Show.   

Mary Louise continued her service to others when she accepted a position at Snyder Union Mifflin Child Development, Inc.  After retiring from SUMCD, she spent the rest of her life focused on volunteerism.

She served on numerous boards and community initiatives, including Transitions, the Area Agency on Aging, Head Start, Geisinger’s Ethics Board, and Evangelical Community Hospital.   She was also always willing to support any academic or swimming endeavor at Susquehanna University.

Mary Louise loved gardening and was often found tending to her flowers and vegetables.  She also loved cooking, canning, boating, reading and watching her grandchildren swim and play water polo.

Most of all, Mary Louise loved her family, son Gedd, daughter-in-law Jennifer, grandchildren Alex and Elizabeth, all of Mechanicsburg; brothers Robert (Tia) Paoloni and Joseph (Debbi) Paoloni of Kent, Ohio and John (Cathi) Paoloni of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; her nieces and nephews, their spouses and children; and her extended family, the Kodlick/Lattarulo family (especially little Luci), Lauver/Harris family, Kennedy family, Mathias family, her Susquehanna traveling group, her Lewisburg women’s group and so many others.

Mary Louise’s family would like to extend a special thanks to all of the staff at Evangelical Community Hospital for their compassionate care in the final weeks of her life.  She told us she felt warm, safe and loved and for that we will be eternally grateful.  

A memorial celebration of Mary Louise’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, April 25, at Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg.

In lieu of flowers, Mary Louise’s family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Dr. G. Edward Schweikert III Swimming Endowment, c/o Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870, Transitions of PA, Post Office Box 170, Lewisburg, PA 17837, or the American Diabetes Association.

Arrangements are by Roupp Funeral Home, Inc., 8594 Old Turnpike Road, Mifflinburg.

Leave your condolences online at www.rouppfuneralhome.com