Mara Scheckler

Madison - Mara Catherine Scheckler, age 41, died unexpectedly on January 22, 2012, at her home in Madison. She was born on March 24, 1970, the daughter of Dr. William E. Scheckler, MD, and Rolliana Scheckler.

Mara graduated from Edgewood High School, 1988, where she was in National Honor Society and served as Editor of the Year Book. She played violin at EHS and in WYSO. She graduated from Washington University in St. Louis with the professional degree in Graphic and Advertising Design.

Right out of college she started her own free-lance graphic design service with subdivisions Camara (photography), DesignMara (logos, branding), WrapArtist (gift wrapping) and
GoodDeeds (charity), all on www.cafepress.com/madMara .

Concurrently she was employed for 5 years at Carl Ames Agency and another 3 years on contract at CUNA. She received numerous awards for her design work notable for United Way and Trek Bicycles. She designed t-shirts, sleeve patches, caps and mugs for The Newport Wilderness Society and assorted memorabilia for The UW Department of Family Medicine's 25th Anniversary. She did all the print design for The Madison Harp Orchestra's 3 benefit concerts for health care in Madison, 2006, 2007, 2008. She also did the print design and arranged film shoots for CDs by her mother and other musicians. For fun, she loved to sing karaoke and made 2 trips to Japan where she took some of her awesome photos. She began her valiant struggle with bipolar disorder in Fall of 2000.

She is survived by her parents, her brother, Edward; sister, Megan O'Leary (Robert); brother, Gregory (Laura); a niece, Catherine; 3 nephews, James, Nicholas and Matthew, and special friend Carlos. At the end of October, 2011, she was preceded in death by her little black Christmas cat Jingle of 16 years.

Memorial donations, if you wish, may be given in her name to any charity of your choice. Suggested are: Middleton Outreach Ministry (MOM), St. Vincent de Paul Society, Edgewood High School, NAMI-Dane County or St. Mary's Hospital.

A memorial Mass will be held for Mara at Blessed Sacrament Church on Rowley Avenue, Friday, Jan 27, 2012, at 11 am with Fr. Patrick Norris O.P. presiding.

Mara's words written October, 2000: "My spiral sun tattoo reminds me to keep my fire and passion alive. Let the bad times help you recognize the good, the struggles teach you, but live for and with joy."