Carolyn Schaefer

Carolyn Schaefer, 80, died Friday, May 2, 2014, at Tuscan Manor in Fountain Hills. She was born in Cairo, Ill. on Sept. 1, 1933, the daughter of Charles E. and Ruth E. Steinhouse.

Carolyn was a banker from her teenage years and retired as Assistant Vice President of the AP Giannini office of Bank of America in San Francisco, in 1988, after 21 years as a “BankAmerican.”

She and her husband, “Chuck,” then relocated to their retirement home in Fountain Hills.

Carolyn’s quick wit and sense of fun lit the world of everyone she touched. She was an avid 49ers fan of the Joe Montana era, loved ice skating and current events and was known for her openness and ease of conversation.

She attended her St. Joseph’s High School class reunions for as long as she was able and treasured long-term relationships with her friends from her hometown of Cairo to her professional years in California and her retirement time in Arizona.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years, Charles B. Schaefer; her parents, Charles and Ruth Steinhouse; her brother, Charles J. Steinhouse; and her niece, Robynn Schaefer.

She is survived by her sister, Frances R. Banks of Houston, Texas; brothers-in-law, Robert L. Banks of Houston, Texas, and Maurice J. Schaefer of Owensboro, Ky.; sister-in-law, Rose Marie Steinhouse of St. Louis, Mo.; nieces, Kay Rosness of Peoria, Ariz., Karen Austin of Norfolk, Va., Tina Clark of Phoenix, Michele Ravencraft of Lexington, Ky., and Kimberly Austin of Norfolk, Va.; nephews, William Bauerle of Whitehall, Mont., Maury J. Schaefer of Owensboro, Ky., John Charles Steinhouse of St. Louis, Mo., Alex Bauerle of Whitehall, Mont., John Schaefer of Lexington, Ky., Andrew Greer of Omaha, Neb., Ben Greer of Estes Park, Colo., Mark Austin of Norfolk, Va. and Scott Austin of Fairbanks, Alaska; three great-great nieces and six great-great nephews.

Visitation is at the Crain Funeral Home in Cairo where friends may call from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.

The Rev. Fr. Jerome Fortenberry will celebrate Mass at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 9, at St. Patrick’s Church Chapel. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery in Villa Ridge.