Mary Elizabeth Sites Schlager, 82, of Lancaster, passed away surrounded by the love of her family.  Mary, one of nine children, was born at home in Greenstone, PA to the late R. Milton and Alice Donahue Stahley Sites.

Mary moved to Lancaster to study nursing, was president of her class, and graduated with honors from St. Joseph's School of Nursing in 1950. She met and married Donald L. Schlager during her graduating year and lived in Lancaster the remainder of her active life. Her love of nursing and caring for patients was her calling. She retired after forty-two years from St Joseph's Hospital, but continued to work during retirement in reception and patient management for a local doctor. She was respected by her colleagues and remembered with fondness by her patients.  Many of her patients became life-long friends.

Her love of family was apparent as she worked tirelessly full time at night while raising six children, rarely sleeping more than four hours at a time for decades. Much of her life was devoted to caring for her children and her grandchildren. Mary loved learning, enjoyed reading and passed her excitement about education and higher learning to her immediate and her extended family. Her hobbies were baking cakes on top of the stove, staying in contact with family, friends from high school and nursing school, and helping and caring for her large family. Mary was a devout Catholic throughout her life attending Sacred Heart Church of Lancaster.

Mary is survived by three sons: John and his wife Janis of Ohio, Mark and his wife Charlene of New Jersey, and Matthew of Lancaster; three daughters: Helen and her husband Peter Husty of Delaware, Eileen and her husband John Hoover of North Carolina and Elise of Lancaster; 16 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  She is further survived by her sisters Lillie Theresa Bream, Charlotte Ann Ford, and Alice Mary Harbaugh.  In addition to her parents and her husband Donald, her brothers Eugene Robert, John Edward and Joseph Leonard, and her sisters Adaline Marie Harbaugh and Mildred Irene Fissel preceded her in death.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at 11am from Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 558 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, PA with The Rev. Michael E. Messner as Celebrant. A viewing will take place at the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, Inc., 414 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA on Tuesday from 6 to 8 PM, with the recitation of the Rosary at 7:30 PM.  A viewing will also take place at the church on Wednesday one hour prior to the Mass. Final Farewell and Commendation will take place from St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Mary's memory to Covenant House, 5 Penn Plaza, New York, NY 10001, attention "Philadelphia Youth", or to Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, 558 W. Walnut St., Lancaster, PA 17603. To send the family online condolences please visit snyderfuneralhome.com