Ernestine L. Schroeder

ORANGE - Ernestine Luciel Schroeder, 91, died on March 15, 2011. Affectionately referred to by many as "Granny Osage", she was known for her love of the Native American culture and her Osage Indian heritage. Born in Laverne, Oklahoma on March 12, 1920, she was the daughter of Ernest L. LaMunyon and Wilma L. Olford. As a young woman Ernestine and her sister Ruth left Oklahoma with their father during the depression era and the Dust Bowl of the late 1930's to settle in New England, Saxtons River, Vermont. Subsequently, Ernestine moved to Greenfield, MA and then to Orange, MA, where she spent the remainder of her life. Local Orange school children were delighted to visit the painted tepee erected in her back yard and listen as she recited stories of the American Great Plains Indians and their lives along the Kansas / Oklahoma Panhandle where she was born. Ernestine retired from the Erving Paper Mills after more than 30 years of service. During many of those years she also worked part-time as a Nurse's Aide at the Farren Memorial Hospital in Greenfield, MA. Ernestine was an honored member of the Laconia Indian Historical Association (LIHA) in Sanbornton, NH and a lifelong supporter of the Audubon Society and the Smithsonian Institute. "Granny Osage" leaves behind her sister, Ruth Rimby (and husband, Al) and 4 children: Roger Schroeder (and wife Keiko) Bellingham, MA; Izola George (and husband Arnold), Niantic, CT; Robert Schroeder (and wife Diane), Barrington, NH; and, Sherry Gray (and husband Wayne), Aurora, IL. She also had 12 grandchildren, Rhonda Schroeder, Roddy Schroeder, Randy Sernyk, Rae Martin, Ryan Watari, Kent Watari, Christopher George, Christian George, Tegan Schroeder, Dustin Bourgoine, Nikia Gray, Danielle Gray and 6 great grandchildren. Memorial services and burial will be held privately by the family. Donations in Ernestine's memory may be made to the Massachusetts Audubon Society, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln, MA 01773 (781) 259-9500 or of the donor's choice. For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.fiskefuneralhome.com. Fiske, Murphy & Mack Funeral Home 110 New Athol Rd., Orange is directing arrangements. $(document).ready(function(){ });