Dorothy Freda Schroeder, 94, formerly of Brighton, passed away on Friday, October 9, 2026, at her home in Godfrey, Illinois, with her family by her side.
She was born on December 26, 1931, in Brighton, the daughter of the late Louis (Ludwig) and Bertha Goetz Kramer.
Dorothy grew up on the Kramer Farm homesteaded just south of Brighton. She lived and raised her children in Alton, Illinois and worked at Owen- Illinois Glass Company. In 1971, she married Leland Schroeder and returned to Brighton.
She was very active in the Brighton Community. She enjoyed volunteering at St. John’s United Church of Christ and St. Paul’s United Methodist Church. It has been said that if there was an activity, she was there working. She volunteered over fifty years helping make and serve Burgoo soup at the Betsey Ann and Brighton Picnics. She also kept busy sewing, crocheting, quilting for family and fund raising, tole painting, oil painting, woodworking, cabinet making, gardening, and canning.
When asked which accomplishment she was most proud of, she answered, “Sewing 930 sundresses for African girls” through African Vision of Hope.
She and Leland enjoyed traveling to all fifty states, all Canadian provinces, and the home countries of both her and Leland’s ancestors. She valued family and Brighton history, noting many times that her grandfather, Rev. Eugene Goetz, preached the last sermon in Brighton’s German Episcopal Methodist Church before it joined congregations with the English Methodist Church to become St. Paul’s Methodist Church.
Dorothy is survived by her three children: her favorite biological daughter in Illinois, Sondra Lynn Zerow (Ron Viere); her favorite daughter in Texas, Sharon White; her favorite son, Danne Zerow; two step-daughters, her favorite step-daughter in Arizona, Margaret Mundy, and her favorite step-daughter in Illinois, Janice (Sam) Wood; Several generations of grandchildren (all equally favorites) including: eight grandchildren: Bethany, Christi, Deanna, Sarah, Rozlyn, Jessica, Michelle, and Brendan; and eighteen great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Leland Schroeder; the other favorite step-daughter Karen Rudnick; infant granddaughters Meagan and Xandra; and a brother, Henry Eugene Kramer.
Visitation will be held from 10 am until the time of memorial service at noon on Wednesday, November 18, 2026, at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Brighton.
Burial will follow at Brighton Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s United Methodist Church or St. John United Church of Christ.
Condolences may be left online at www.andersonfamilyfuneral.com.
