Norene Ethyl Schum

Norene Ethyl (DeBacker) Schum

Norene (Rene) was born on 17 March 1928 in the family farmhouse on Arapahoe Rd east of Boulder, CO. to Bernice (Fitzhugh) and John DeBacker. Rene had an older brother and sister. She promoted through the Boulder Valley SD and graduated from Boulder HS in 1945. She found the love of her life and married Vernon Schum, son of Celestine (Wombacher) and John Schum of Boulder on 22 August 1948 at Sacred Heart of Mary in South Boulder, where her family had been parishioners since its founding. They had 3 children John (Jack), Robert (Bob) and Victoria (Vikki).

Prior to having her children, she worked at Neodata Inc. as a bookkeeper. When her children started full day school, she spent the next 18 years as a cook for Boulder Valley SD and Univ. of Colorado.

Norene loved the mountains: going on picnics, camping trips, and traveling with her husband and children. She was the primary driver, even pulling the trailer so Vern could sightsee. After Vern passed in 1984, she kept up traveling with family and friends covering much of the Continental United States going from the Atlantic to the Pacific. She also enjoyed cruising in the Caribbean and southern Alaska.

To Rene her family was her pride and joy showing pictures and telling stories to anyone who would listen. For Rene everyone she met was family and was thus treated as such.

Vern and Rene loved music and singing, which she carried on through her life. Singing, playing piano/organ at her church and groups where she lived and attended.

Her church and worship were an important part of her life attending Sacred Heart of Mary, and Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Boulder. Vern and Rene transferred to help start the new parish of St. Martin De Porres along Table Mesa Dr. in South Boulder.  Moving to Brighton, CO to be near her daughter she attended St. Augustine Catholic Church.

Norene passed on 11 April 2024 at the age of 96, and was preceded by her husband, parents, siblings and their spouses John (Lois) DeBacker, Doris (Elliot) LaBay, also a nephew David LaBay. She is survived by her children and spouses John (Jan) Schum, Robert (Kathy) Schum; Vikki (Rick) Stewart. Also, six granddaughters and their spouses/partners Tess (Cory) Stewart; Nicole (Travis) Ott; Katie (Aaron) Baxter, Maggie Schum, Cody Davis, Megan Schum, and Hayley Schum. There are three great grandchildren, Ben Ott, Rowan Stewart-Maccarrone and Nora Stewart-Maccarrone.

The service will be Wednesday 24 April 2024 at Sacred Heart of Mary 6739 S Boulder Rd Boulder, CO, starting with a Rosery at 10:30am, Mass at 11:00am, followed by interment and graveside service. A reception will be held in the church parish hall after the gravesite service.

The family request that donations be made to Sacred Heart of Mary.

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