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YOUNGSTOWN -- Marie Agnes Schuler Handel, 96, of Youngstown, left us peacefully on Thursday morning, Aug. 20, 2026, enveloped in the love of her children, with her devoted son Kevin at her side.
Marie was born on May 3, 1930, in Cincinnati, the sixth of nine children to Larry and Armella Schuler. Early in her life, her family moved to Youngstown, where she spent most of her childhood and much of her adult life.
Despite growing up in the midst of the Depression and World War II, her childhood memories were almost universally positive as she recalled a tight-knit family that was loving, caring, and compassionate. That extended family, which has grown significantly in size over the years, remains the same loving and caring family.
Marie met her future husband Ted at Ursuline High School in Youngstown. They dated for several years and were married on Aug. 13, 1949, and immediately moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where Ted had begun his business career.
In the six years they lived in Omaha, they had their first four children -- Ted, Dan, Colleen and Karen. For most families, four would be a complete family. But not for Marie and Ted. After moving to Minneapolis, they had three more -- Marie, Bill and Meg. Then they had Mike during a short stay in Youngstown. After moving to St. Louis for another business opportunity, Marie and Ted had two more children, Nora and Don. We might all believe that they would be done at that point, but they were not. They moved back to Youngstown and had what would prove to be the final four of 14 -- Kevin, Christine, Sean and Mark. In total, Marie and Ted brought eight boys and six girls into the world.
The majority of Marie's adult life was spent raising her children in Youngstown. Marie was an amazing mom, as every one of her 14 would attest. She was kind; she was funny; she was fierce when necessary. She was always curious and truly interested in you. When she spoke with you, you were the only thing she was focused on. In a family of 14 children, you might think it was difficult to ever feel special, but with Marie, you always felt special.
Her Catholic faith was very important to Marie, and she had a lifelong attachment to St. Dominic Church, which most of her children attended, and to Cardinal Mooney High School, which all of her children attended. She and Ted had a strong belief in the value of education, and all 14 of her children completed college. Not to be outdone, when her children were all enrolled in school, Marie herself went to Youngstown State University and obtained her degree in social work. Clearly, she was not going to be left behind!
As her children matured and left for different parts of the U.S. and the world, Marie remained in Youngstown until 2011, when she and Ted moved to the Denver, Colorado, area to be nearer to family that resided there.
Immediately she became a special part of that community, and her faith found a home at Our Lady of Fatima Church in Lakewood, Colorado. She had a wonderful life in Denver with her children and Ted, and they relished the opportunity to spend so much time with their grandchildren in that area, something that was extremely important to her. Nothing was more important than family.
So often we measure our lives in the trips we've taken and the things we've achieved. Marie did travel quite a bit, going to Jerusalem and the Holy Land, to Italy and France and other parts of Europe, to Alaska, and to Hawaii, usually with family. And what greater achievement is there than successfully raising 14 children?
But the most essential measure of Marie was her abiding love. Marie's love was a fierce and unshakeable love, a love for her husband, for her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, her extended and chosen families, and indeed, for all those who came into her life. This fierceness was not harsh but, in fact, was gentle. The fierceness reflected her love's intensity, endurance, and strength, always unconditional in nature. Marie's love was a beacon in the darkest of nights. That was the gift that she gave to all of us. She truly was the soul of our family.
In addition to her 14 children, Marie leaves behind 26 grandchildren as well as 16 great-grandchildren. She loved these grandchildren dearly and reveled in the annual vacations where she could be with those that she was not able to see as frequently. And while great-grandchildren came at a point in her life where she was slowing down, she developed special bonds with them as well - even those whom she never physically met. That's who she was.
Marie also leaves behind her dear sister Ceil, her brother-in-law Dan (Dolly), and sister-in-law Ann.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted (2018); her son-in-law, Temu (2020); her brothers, Larry, Bill and Steve; her sisters, Helen, Mel, Kay and Gertie; her sister-in-law, Noreen; and her beloved granddaughter, Becca.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donate to St. Dominic Church and Parish's Loaves and Fishes (Harry Wollet) diaper distribution program, as this held significant value in Marie's life.
There will be a visitation from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 24, at the McCauley Funeral Home, 230 Broadway Ave., in Youngstown.
Send thoughts and condolences to the funeral home website www.mccauleyfuneral.com.
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