Carole Mary (nee Schaeffer) Kramer, 84, made her journey home on July 30, 2023. Carole’s life was filled with God’s love and blessings. She spent her life loving and serving others as a sister, wife, mother, grandmother and a nurse, volunteering and serving others.
Carole was the eleventh of the 17 children of Carl and Eulalia Schaeffer. She lived in Soulard in their home, where her father also ran his business, Schaeffer Electric. When she was ten years old, they then moved out to the country to what is now Oakville. A loving wife to the late Raymond A. Kramer for 59 years. They both grew up in St. Agnes parish in St. Louis. They reunited and started dating after her sister Ginny’s wedding where they both were part of the wedding party. Their dating continued and their love grew into the beautiful bond of marriage on August 6th, 1960 at St.Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
From that love came Carole’s most important life’s purpose of being a mother. She was a mother of eight children. A devoted and loving mother to Laura (Jim) O’Hallaron, Nancy (John) Kroll, Barb (Steve) Frein, Steve (Nancy) Kramer, Debby (Bill) Koulouriotis, Michelle (Joe) Moffatt, David (Megan) Kramer, and John (Amber) Kramer. Loving Grandmother to Molly (Morgan) McDonnell, Kate (Jack) Murphy, Claire and Michael O’Hallaron; Emily (Chris) Carpenter, Gretchen and Hannah Kroll; Elise (Sean) O’Brien, Andrea (Brad) Riesenberg, Matt and Daniel Frein; Helen, Will, Carolan and Mary Kramer; George, Grace and Zoe Koulouriotis; Joseph, Charlie and Leo Moffatt; Ryan, Nicholas, Colin and Patrick Kramer; Rose, Eloise, and Harriet Kramer.
A caring and loyal sister to Joan Nigh, Mary (Tom) Kenefick, Ginny McFarland, Lois (John) Pollard, Jane (Bob) Harr, Judy (Frank) Fenton, John (Margie) Schaeffer and the late Gerald Schaeffer, Charles Schaeffer, Anita Sweeney, Rich Schaeffer, Rita Franklin, Ruth Schaeffer, Bob Schaeffer, Tom Schaeffer, and Mark Schaeffer A devoted sister-in-law to the late Robert Kramer and Catherine Bubash, and to Joan Tettamble. A fun and loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.
Carole’s achievements were numerous, all dedicated to loving and serving others. She was a proud alumna of Nerinx High School and DePaul Hospital School of Nursing. She was a dedicated nurse and volunteer in her church and parish school. Much of her life revolved around helping others, including friends, neighbors and anyone in need. Carole was a beautiful example of how to be a servant of Christ.
Carole was a devoted wife, loving mother, loyal sister, and dedicated grandmother. She was a trustworthy friend, good neighbor and mentor to many. To know Carole was to know love. She will be missed by many, especially by those lucky enough to call her their mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She has loved deeply and given so much of herself in this life. Now her work is done; she can rejoice and be glad, for her reward will be great in heaven.
Services: You are invited to help celebrate the life of Carole on Saturday, August 5th, 2023 at St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church (4900 Ringer Rd, 63129). Visitation from 10am -12 noon with funeral mass at noon. Private burial with family will be held at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery on Monday, Aug 7th. In lieu of flowers please send donations to Our Little Haven https://www.ourlittlehaven.org/
Such a beautiful tribute to my sister Carole. She was every word written in her obituary and will be greatly missed.
A friend said to me Carole is Heaven’s gain and our loss for sure. She was always a comfort to me and a loving sister. I will miss her. Aunt Ginny
Carole sure was a wonderful MOTHER.
Mary and I are praying for the family.
Aunt Carole was an amazing lady! She and Ray are together again. Sending love and strength to all my cousins and their families. Hugs. Karin.
I’m so sad to be missing Aunt Carole’s funeral as we’re in Wisconsin on vacation. Carole was a true gem and will be sorely missed. Her marriage to Uncle Ray was inspiring to all of us. My sincere condolences to her children and grandchildren.
Love,
Peggy
What a beautiful tribute to a truly beautiful woman, inside and out. Well done, God’s faithful servant! Prayers to the Kramer family, Carole’s remaining siblings, and all of her friends.
My deep sympathy and sincere condolences. Thoughts and prayers to the KRAMER family.
I loved her like a second mother! She was and always will be so inspiring to me! I will never forget how she made me feel so special and loved!
Our sympathy and prayers go out to the entire Kramer Family. Your Mom was such a special lady, SO motherly, SO neighborly and SO loving. She was one of those people who always made you feel good about yourself. When living next door on Chasebury Terrace, we were so fortunate to have her and Ray nearby. I will never forget those many early morning feedings she came over to help with our triplets. While we got a lot of help from so many people in those days, your mom was definitely the one who gave Carolyn the most comfort. Ahh… there are so many fond memories of your Mom that make me smile— catching glimpses of her watching her old movies in the basement, or preparing the basement for an upcoming Kramer family gatherings and holidays, or her grabbing your hand, patting it saying “It will be alright, Baby”.
I loved Mrs Kramer, what we called her, she was our neighbor and family friend growing up. She truly was my favorite mom in the neighborhood, and I have memories of her sweet smile and loving way. She was one of the moms in my carpool at Cor Jesu, I always loved when it was her time to drive., she greeted us all like she was our mom, always so interested in our day! Her devotion as a wife and mom were admirable. She will be so missed by many, my deepest sympathy to all the sweet Kramer kids.
Over the past 30 some odd years the class of 1957 Nerinx Hall (click) girls Sue,Sue,Sueie,Sue, Joann,Sally and Carole got together once a month depending on weather, and different circumstances, usually if not every month at least every other month
We always had each other to help solve and support one another. God blessed us with 38 children all together. What joy we felt to have each other., now we will feel a void loosing Carole, in our 84th year of life God has Blessed us with these besties friends
You will be missed my sweet Carole save a place at the Lords lunch table we won’t be for far behind xoxo
Carole was such a good friend to me. I will miss her
very much but I am so happy for her, she is finally with
the love of her life Ray. She missed him so much when
he went to heaven and now they are back together. I
can just see her smiling and holding his hand.
You kids will be fine because I know you are happy for
your wonderful Mom. She loved God dearly and she is
now with Him. God Bless all the Kramer kids, their spouses and all Carole’s grandkids, who she loved so much.
The Nerinx girls who had lunch with her once a month, will miss her so much because we all have such fond memories of Carole and had so much fun. Love you Carole..
Carole was such a good friend to me and she will be missed very much. She is so happy today to be with God and the love of her life Ray. I can see her sitting with Ray holding his hand with a huge smile on her face.
I know you kids will be fine because your Mom and Dad taught you that to be in heaven is everything you will ever need. She and your Dad will be watching over you and smiling every day at the family they had together.
Love you Carole..
I was a classmate of Carole’s at Nerinx and have wonderful memories of our days there. I happen to be in town, and was talking to Sally Buetner Wagner this morning, and she told me Carol had died. I was part of another Nerinx lunch group that Carole occasionally attended.
From Cenacle prayer enrollments:
“In Memory
Those we love, don’t go away, they walk beside us every day. Unseen, unheard, but always near, still loved, still missed, and very dear.“
Carole was my dear clasdmste at DePaul School of Nursing & was truly.a great caring Nurse & Friend.. We had many good times together & I’m sure she’s happy to be in heaven with Ray! When I visited her 2 weeks ago, she wanted me to leave the window curtain open so she could see Ray’s picture!💕 She felt comfort in knowing that her children & grandchildren were going to be fine! I’ve come to know a few of her daughters in my parish and I’m convinced they will be ok-having had the great love & care of Carole & Ray! Love, Mich
We are so sorry to learn of Carole’s passing. She was always a ray of sunshine whenever we would see her at gatherings. She often babysat us cousins in her teen years and was always kind and a joy to be with. Her obituary sums up her life so beautifully and so true! Our deepest sympathies to all her children and family. She will be so missed by all who knew her.
Carole was my fellow student at DePaul. She treated everyone well. She was kind and caring always.
Deepest condolences on the loss of this beautiful woman, inside and out. Mrs. Kramer was the kindest soul, someone when you met her, you felt like you were talking to an old friend. Funny, comforting, and just an amazing person.