Mrs. ALBERT (Colleen A. O'Meara) SCHAMS 1935 - 2003

HANTELMANN, OMEARA, SCHAMS

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 9/11/2003 at 21:03:13

Colleen A. (O'Meara) Schams

Telegraph Herald - Thursday, July 24, 2003

Colleen A. (O'Meara) Schams, 67, of Madison, Wis., formerly of Dubuque, died Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at the University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, following complications of multiple myeloma.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 602 Everglade Drive, Madison, with Monsignor Terrence Connors officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Mount Olivet Cemetery, Key West, Iowa. Friends may call after 9 a.m. Saturday at the church. The Ryan Funeral Home, Madison, is in charge of arrangements.

She was born on Oct. 20, 1935, in Dubuque, daughter of Michael and Hernelda (Hantelmann) O'Meara. She married Albert Schams on June 21, 1980, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church.

She graduated from the former St. Columbkille's High School in 1953. She attended Clarke College, Dubuque, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1957. She furthered her education at the University of Iowa, Iowa City, with a master's degree in musicology.

Colleen worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District, primarily at Van Hise and Thomas Jefferson Middle Schools in vocal music. Shortly after she began working in Madison, she received a fellowship at Boston University for doctoral study.

She was a passionate teacher who expected and strove for perfection from the thousands of students she taught. She acknowledged a bit of imperfection, but fully expected to be the first Saint Colleen.

Her Catholic faith guided her life and in retirement she volunteered much of her time to Red Cross, UW Hospital, Knights of Columbus social events and was very active at her church, St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church.

She was proud of her Irish heritage and was pleased to be co-president of the Dane County Shamrock Club, Inc., the past two years.

Colleen was a world traveler, touring more than 140 countries, every continent and on one special trip traveled 72 days on a train from Hong Kong to London.

Surviving are her husband, Albert, of Madison; a sister-in-law, Janet O'Meara, of Dubuque; several cousins; and many dear friends across the world.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and two brothers, Michael J. and Jerry.

Memorials may be given to the University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Research Center.

She was my soul mate with whom I traveled the world. She is now with God traveling in eternity.