Jean Schroeder

Jean Laird Schroeder of Keene, New Hampshire passed away quietly on October 2, 2016 at the age of 100. Her daughter, Ann, was by her side.

She was born in Schenectady, NY on December 11, 1915 to James Campbell Laird and Mildred Peabody Laird. Jean was raised in Montreal, Canada along with her beloved brother and sister, Robert and Barbara.

She graduated from Simmons College, class of 1937, and for a brief period owned The Frock Shop in Marblehead, MA with her cousin, Marge French.

In response to the need for additional military personnel during World War II, Jean enlisted in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service). She served for 4 years, in due course as a 1st Lieutenant. She was based in Washington, DC and did Russian code work.
In 1947, Jean married Andrew Jackson Schroeder and they raised 3 children in the neighborhood of Oakview in Silver Spring, Maryland. Jean was employed by the Montgomery County Public Libraries and worked at both the Silver Spring and White Oak branches. Predeceased by her husband in 1999, in 2002 Jean moved to Langdon Place in Keene, NH to be near her daughter, Ann.

Jean loved her family, travel, sewing, crosswords, novels, and a good game of Scrabble played by the family rules.

She is survived by her children, Ann Schroeder and her significant other, Rick Snow, Jr., of Dummerston, Vermont; Kathryn Schroeder Harris and her husband, David, of San Diego, California; and Jim Schroeder of Maryland. In addition she leaves nieces and nephews and their extended families.

Jean's family wishes to thank all the staff members at Langdon Place for their excellent care during her 14-year residence there, as well as for their special kindness during her declining year.

In keeping with her wishes, no service will be held. Her ashes will be interred at Arlington Cemetery, alongside those of her husband. In lieu of flowers, her family would be grateful for any donations to be sent in her memory to the charity of their choice.