Audrey Marie Schumann

Audrey was born in 1952 to Donald Alfred Schumann and Audrey Frances (Radeke) Schumann in Chicago Heights, Illinois and grew up in nearby Crete. She graduated from Crete-Monee High School where she was known for her free spirit and intense curiosity. In her youth, she was married to Bob Shinker and Sal Patti.

Post-graduation, Audrey travelled across the United States with her best friend, Erika. The two eventually moved to Southern California where Audrey later graduated with an Associate of Arts in general studies from Los Angeles City College.

She met many friends in Southern California who all remember her generosity and kind spirit. One friend and roommate recalls the time when some of Audrey’s friends were evicted, and without a second thought, Audrey welcomed them into their own tiny apartment. She was always trying to help those in need.

Audrey spent much of her life in service of children—first at Child, Youth and Family Services in Altadena as the office manager and later as a library assistant at the Bear Mountain Library. She also worked independently with special needs students. The family’s pictures of Audrey show that she was smiling and happiest when she worked as a special needs aide or when she was with her only child, Ellie.

Audrey was thrilled when she became pregnant with Ellie by her third husband, Thomas William Mraz. Her family recalls the joy that she had with her pregnancy after having experienced difficulty with starting a family. Audrey and Thomas married and decided to leave Altadena for more rural living in Squaw Valley, CA in the early 1990s.

Her new home was in close proximity to Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks, and Audrey loved to spend time camping with her family or playing in the snow with her daughter, Ellie.

In addition to her enthusiasm for working with children, Audrey had a lifelong passion for collecting antiques and curios, though she especially enjoyed salt and pepper shakers and 50’s memorabilia. She co-owned Kings Canyon Antiques and The Domes Gift Shop and Deli in Squaw Valley, CA during the 1990s.

Audrey loved animals, taking her two Labrador retrievers Willie and Lola with her to Squaw Valley. Later, her dog Ginger gave birth to a litter of puppies, and from that litter, she kept her beloved Lucky. She also had cats throughout her life from Princess and Squeaky in Squaw Valley to her last cat, Neo. Ginger and Lucky moved to Tucson with Audrey, and on their passing she was blessed to find a stray, Tootie, that she cared for until she was no longer able.

After moving to Tucson in 2000, Audrey started working with children in the Amphi School District and later ended her working career as the book store manager. She is fondly remembered by colleagues and students from the Amphi District. Some remember her as “lovely” and “kind” and as a “wonderful woman” who “always had a smile and time for a chat.”

In early retirement, she conducted estate sales in the Tucson area and worked part-time in a tax office.

She was preceded in death by her beloved fourth husband, David Bumbaco, who was a mechanic. The two both had generous spirits, allowing them to enjoy each other’s hobbies like listening to country music, camping, and going to hot rod shows. Like Audrey, David was always quick to help a friend—jump-starting a car or spending his time and tools to help people out.

She is survived by her only child Ellie Schumann-Mraz and brother Donald (Martha) Schumann.