Tributes

Born to immigrant Ukrainian parents, Catherine (Caterina in Ukrainian, Kay to her friends) is survived by her husband of 60 years James (Jim), daughter Gail Shaeffer of Durham NC, daughter Lynn Shaeffer Garreau and son-in-law Dan Garreau of Atlanta, GA, son Scott Shaeffer and daughter-in-law Karla Shaeffer and grandchildren Kristin , Austin, Hunter, and Jacob Shaeffer all of Atlanta, GA, grandchildren Lauren Kish of Brooklyn, NY, Ali Kish and fiance Jake Lowenstein, of Lexington, Kentucky, Rachel Kish of Asheville, NC, brother Bill Dorn and niece Amy Dorn of Cleveland, OH, nephew Chris Dorn and his wife Amy of Prescott Valley, Az, and niece Loretta Dorn of Hays, Kansas. Kay and brother Bill’s parents Michael and Tekla Dobromilsky lived in different locations in the Cleveland area and eventually ran a family corner grocery store. Kay was president of her senior class at John Hays High School in Cleveland. As a young woman, Kay attended secretarial school then worked as an executive secretary for the Treasurer of Chesapeake and Ohio in Cleveland before meeting love of her life Jim Shaeffer on a blind date. She was intrigued by his work ethic, his fun loving demeanor and dark good looks. They married in 1956, honeymooned in Bermuda and settled initially in the small town of North Canton, Ohio. In North Canton, Kay and Jim enjoyed small town living in their small Fair Oaks Street house with its wonderful garden. Kay developed a lifelong friendship with next door neighbor Terry Harrison with whom she shared the joys and trials of child-rearing including girl scout troop leading and neighborhood July 4th celebrations. In 1967, the Shaeffer family moved to North Olmsted, Ohio. They attended Christ the King Lutheran Church where Kay made many friends and served in Altar Guild. She continued to support her children in various activities including Girl Scouts, church groups and sporting events. After raising three children as a stay-at-home Mom and homemaker, Kay worked as an office manager and first assistant for oral surgeon John Blakemore, a role at which she both excelled and thoroughly enjoyed. In 1999, Jim retired and they moved to North Carolina to be closer to their children. Kay loved having family to the house on Lake Norman for meals, water fun and group games. She loved watching birds and would excitedly exclaim "Hummingbird!" when the tiny creature appeared at her window feeder so that everyone in the house could share her wonder. She was devoted to her 7 grandchildren. When they were young, she delighted in playing with them, reading and singing to them. As the grandchildren grew, Kay and Jim attended many of their sporting events and performances Kay loved playing games of all kinds, especially scrabble and cards - hearts, spades and bridge. She was quite competitive and loved to win, often reviewing pivotal hands for days, learning from missed opportunities and exalting in key wins. Kay was a wonderful hostess and enjoyed cooking for her family and friends. Presentation was as important as taste and nutrition so she carefully chose place settings, napkins and the appearance of the plated food. She loved sending pictures of her colorful meals on her Ipad. Her bran muffins, which she generously shared with neighbors and friends, are legend. She was a great friend and maintained her friendships by talking to friends regularly on the phone and using her manual typewriter to write letters which she always signed with ‘xoxo’ and ‘PTL’. She remembered birthdays and anniversaries with carefully chosen cards and notes. She treasured letters received from friends and family and filled many archival boxes with letters and cards. Kay loved keeping in shape and did not feel right if she could not walk 2-3 miles daily on the treadmill. She recently discovered chair yoga which she enjoyed attending with her dear friend Alma Bolen. Devoted to the Lord, Kay read her devotional and Bible and prayed daily for her family, friends and country. She was an empathetic listener and was often known to say "Let’s pray about that together right now". She served on the Intercessory Prayer Team at Davidson United Methodist Church. Kay worked tirelessly as a peacemaker and mediator - there was nothing more important to her than her Lord and her family and friends. She loved well and was consequently well loved. She was a storyteller, repeating stories often and with relish. She could make a story about a salt-encrusted beef tenderloin gone wrong or a runaway horse endearing over and over again. Her smile, her laughter, her stories, her food, and her love will not be forgotten. A Memorial Service celebrating Catherine Shaeffer’s life will be held on, Monday, December 19, 2016 at 2pm in the sanctuary at Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 South Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending a donation to the charity of your choice or Kay and Jim’s church. Davidson United Methodist Church233 South Main StreetDavidson, NC 28036Phone: 704-892-8277 http://www.davidsonumc.org Some of Catherine’s children and grandchildren want to share personal memories: Scott Shaeffer (son) - My Mom taught me many things to prepare for life and it's challenges. One of the most important lessons for a young man is learning the value of traditions to instruct your family. She demonstrated with our many traditions how the repetition of family, church, and other activities formed and reinforced our family into a strong family unit. As I grew up and started my own family, it was easy to use this model of traditions to bind our growing family together. At some point, she gave me a plaque with wonderful words describing how God did not make us all alike on purpose, but provided the necessary differences which strengthened us into a perfect family support structure. She believed in God's family plan. She made Christ the center of our family and she was a cornerstone of ours as well. One of my earliest memories of my Mom was her encouragement and persistence in teaching me to ice skate. She accomplished this with much patience and what must have been an incredibly sore arm from my hanging onto to it for so long. She always gave her best for us all, from taking time to make wonderful dinners each night, remembering the special events of our busy lives, and being a loving wife, Mother, and Grandmother. We love you Mom. Karla Shaeffer (daughter-in-law) When I think of Mrs. Shaeffer, I always hink of her listening heart and her deep concern for everything that was going on in my life. No detail was too small. She wanted to know everything. She would listen, offer support, and always pray with me. We shared the same views both religiously and politically and had many fun and interesting conversations. I loved her organization--everything had a perfect place and everything was always in its place. She will be missed but I know that she is having nice long talks with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It doesn't get any better than that! I find comfort in 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." If my math is correct, I will be seeing Mrs. Shaeffer in about 1.2 hours!!! Kristin Shaeffer (grandaughter) When I think of a Godly woman, I think of Grandma. My kind and considerate Grandma whose love of God was so clearly and incandescently reflected in the way she spoke and acted. Her thoughtfulness of others and how she could offer wise counsel on any number of subjects using biblical truths portrayed these attributes. This does not even begin to encapsulate all of my Grandma's qualities however. She was a fabulous cook who rivaled the best. There were always sweets and treats to be eaten, all made by her with love. There was never a hungry moment under her watch. She was so strong and beautiful, and boy, could she dance! I remember teaching her, as she put it, all the "cool and hip" dance moves at my Aunt Lynn's and Uncle Dan's wedding a few years ago. Her dancing put me to shame and I still laugh at the memory. She was an inspirational woman who will remain a strong female role model in my life, someone whom I can strive to be like. Her stories of her childhood and her life will stay with me forever and I will always cherish the time I was given to spend with her, learn from her, and be loved by her. I love you Grandma and I will miss you so very much. Austin Shaeffer (grandson) Grandma was a very special person to me. I always enjoyed the long conversations with her about a myriad of topics, I could talk with her for hours. She was the perfect Grandmother to me. My favorite memories were how when my siblings and I stayed over at her house and she would say, "Go pick out a game!" with a large smile on her face. I personally preferred the game "Trouble" and "Pokeno" when we played. If you won the game she would give you her trademark reward, the caramel apple lollipops. Even if you lost, Grandma would still sneak you one under the table, she was that kind of person. I also clearly remember how she would give my siblings and myself bread for fishing at the lake in the backyard. She would always make sure we had everything we needed when we visited her. There are countless more memories I would love to share, but by then I would have written a book and then some. I will always love her and I will see her again in heaven. I will end with this, "Goodnight, Grandma." Hunter Shaeffer (grandson) I remember how Grandma always was there for me and I noticed how she always had prepared special things for our visits. She went out of her way to always make snickerdoodle cookies or her famous Bran muffins every time I would visit. She had a warm feeling when you talked with her. She was always calm and loving in her approach to helping me solve issues. When receiving her mail for Christmas or birthdays, she would always include daily newspaper articles which made me both laugh and learn. I simply looked forward to her letters because she would always at the end say she loved me. I love her so much. Jacob Shaeffer (grandson) Grandma was always a ray of sunshine to me. She was always enthusiastic and had a jolly tone of voice. I always remembered how encouraging she was by telling me that I would achieve great things. I learned how to be an expert card player from her and I will always have that skill to remember her by. Playing cards with Grandma and my siblings was one of my favorite things to do during our visits due to both her skill as a player, which made me want to do better, and as a loving grandmother who would let me win from time to time. She was an amazing woman and I loved her so much. Please take time to sign the guestbook located at the bottom of the page Kay and brother Bill’s parents Michael and Tekla Dobromilsky lived in different locations in the Cleveland area and eventually ran a family corner grocery store. Kay was president of her senior class at John Hays High School in Cleveland. As a young woman, Kay attended secretarial school then worked as an executive secretary for the Treasurer of Chesapeake and Ohio in Cleveland before meeting love of her life Jim Shaeffer on a blind date. She was intrigued by his work ethic, his fun loving demeanor and dark good looks. They married in 1956, honeymooned in Bermuda and settled initially in the small town of North Canton, Ohio. In North Canton, Kay and Jim enjoyed small town living in their small Fair Oaks Street house with its wonderful garden. Kay developed a lifelong friendship with next door neighbor Terry Harrison with whom she shared the joys and trials of child-rearing including girl scout troop leading and neighborhood July 4th celebrations. In 1967, the Shaeffer family moved to North Olmsted, Ohio. They attended Christ the King Lutheran Church where Kay made many friends and served in Altar Guild. She continued to support her children in various activities including Girl Scouts, church groups and sporting events. After raising three children as a stay-at-home Mom and homemaker, Kay worked as an office manager and first assistant for oral surgeon John Blakemore, a role at which she both excelled and thoroughly enjoyed. In 1999, Jim retired and they moved to North Carolina to be closer to their children. Kay loved having family to the house on Lake Norman for meals, water fun and group games. She loved watching birds and would excitedly exclaim "Hummingbird!" when the tiny creature appeared at her window feeder so that everyone in the house could share her wonder. She was devoted to her 7 grandchildren. When they were young, she delighted in playing with them, reading and singing to them. As the grandchildren grew, Kay and Jim attended many of their sporting events and performances Kay loved playing games of all kinds, especially scrabble and cards - hearts, spades and bridge. She was quite competitive and loved to win, often reviewing pivotal hands for days, learning from missed opportunities and exalting in key wins. Kay was a wonderful hostess and enjoyed cooking for her family and friends. Presentation was as important as taste and nutrition so she carefully chose place settings, napkins and the appearance of the plated food. She loved sending pictures of her colorful meals on her Ipad. Her bran muffins, which she generously shared with neighbors and friends, are legend. She was a great friend and maintained her friendships by talking to friends regularly on the phone and using her manual typewriter to write letters which she always signed with ‘xoxo’ and ‘PTL’. She remembered birthdays and anniversaries with carefully chosen cards and notes. She treasured letters received from friends and family and filled many archival boxes with letters and cards. Kay loved keeping in shape and did not feel right if she could not walk 2-3 miles daily on the treadmill. She recently discovered chair yoga which she enjoyed attending with her dear friend Alma Bolen. Devoted to the Lord, Kay read her devotional and Bible and prayed daily for her family, friends and country. She was an empathetic listener and was often known to say "Let’s pray about that together right now". She served on the Intercessory Prayer Team at Davidson United Methodist Church. Kay worked tirelessly as a peacemaker and mediator - there was nothing more important to her than her Lord and her family and friends. She loved well and was consequently well loved. She was a storyteller, repeating stories often and with relish. She could make a story about a salt-encrusted beef tenderloin gone wrong or a runaway horse endearing over and over again. Her smile, her laughter, her stories, her food, and her love will not be forgotten. A Memorial Service celebrating Catherine Shaeffer’s life will be held on, Monday, December 19, 2016 at 2pm in the sanctuary at Davidson United Methodist Church, 233 South Main Street, Davidson, NC 28036. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests sending a donation to the charity of your choice or Kay and Jim’s church. Davidson United Methodist Church233 South Main StreetDavidson, NC 28036Phone: 704-892-8277 http://www.davidsonumc.org Some of Catherine’s children and grandchildren want to share personal memories: Scott Shaeffer (son) - My Mom taught me many things to prepare for life and it's challenges. One of the most important lessons for a young man is learning the value of traditions to instruct your family. She demonstrated with our many traditions how the repetition of family, church, and other activities formed and reinforced our family into a strong family unit. As I grew up and started my own family, it was easy to use this model of traditions to bind our growing family together. At some point, she gave me a plaque with wonderful words describing how God did not make us all alike on purpose, but provided the necessary differences which strengthened us into a perfect family support structure. She believed in God's family plan. She made Christ the center of our family and she was a cornerstone of ours as well. One of my earliest memories of my Mom was her encouragement and persistence in teaching me to ice skate. She accomplished this with much patience and what must have been an incredibly sore arm from my hanging onto to it for so long. She always gave her best for us all, from taking time to make wonderful dinners each night, remembering the special events of our busy lives, and being a loving wife, Mother, and Grandmother. We love you Mom. Karla Shaeffer (daughter-in-law) When I think of Mrs. Shaeffer, I always hink of her listening heart and her deep concern for everything that was going on in my life. No detail was too small. She wanted to know everything. She would listen, offer support, and always pray with me. We shared the same views both religiously and politically and had many fun and interesting conversations. I loved her organization--everything had a perfect place and everything was always in its place. She will be missed but I know that she is having nice long talks with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It doesn't get any better than that! I find comfort in 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." If my math is correct, I will be seeing Mrs. Shaeffer in about 1.2 hours!!! Kristin Shaeffer (grandaughter) When I think of a Godly woman, I think of Grandma. My kind and considerate Grandma whose love of God was so clearly and incandescently reflected in the way she spoke and acted. Her thoughtfulness of others and how she could offer wise counsel on any number of subjects using biblical truths portrayed these attributes. This does not even begin to encapsulate all of my Grandma's qualities however. She was a fabulous cook who rivaled the best. There were always sweets and treats to be eaten, all made by her with love. There was never a hungry moment under her watch. She was so strong and beautiful, and boy, could she dance! I remember teaching her, as she put it, all the "cool and hip" dance moves at my Aunt Lynn's and Uncle Dan's wedding a few years ago. Her dancing put me to shame and I still laugh at the memory. She was an inspirational woman who will remain a strong female role model in my life, someone whom I can strive to be like. Her stories of her childhood and her life will stay with me forever and I will always cherish the time I was given to spend with her, learn from her, and be loved by her. I love you Grandma and I will miss you so very much. Austin Shaeffer (grandson) Grandma was a very special person to me. I always enjoyed the long conversations with her about a myriad of topics, I could talk with her for hours. She was the perfect Grandmother to me. My favorite memories were how when my siblings and I stayed over at her house and she would say, "Go pick out a game!" with a large smile on her face. I personally preferred the game "Trouble" and "Pokeno" when we played. If you won the game she would give you her trademark reward, the caramel apple lollipops. Even if you lost, Grandma would still sneak you one under the table, she was that kind of person. I also clearly remember how she would give my siblings and myself bread for fishing at the lake in the backyard. She would always make sure we had everything we needed when we visited her. There are countless more memories I would love to share, but by then I would have written a book and then some. I will always love her and I will see her again in heaven. I will end with this, "Goodnight, Grandma." Hunter Shaeffer (grandson) I remember how Grandma always was there for me and I noticed how she always had prepared special things for our visits. She went out of her way to always make snickerdoodle cookies or her famous Bran muffins every time I would visit. She had a warm feeling when you talked with her. She was always calm and loving in her approach to helping me solve issues. When receiving her mail for Christmas or birthdays, she would always include daily newspaper articles which made me both laugh and learn. I simply looked forward to her letters because she would always at the end say she loved me. I love her so much. Jacob Shaeffer (grandson) Grandma was always a ray of sunshine to me. She was always enthusiastic and had a jolly tone of voice. I always remembered how encouraging she was by telling me that I would achieve great things. I learned how to be an expert card player from her and I will always have that skill to remember her by. Playing cards with Grandma and my siblings was one of my favorite things to do during our visits due to both her skill as a player, which made me want to do better, and as a loving grandmother who would let me win from time to time. She was an amazing woman and I loved her so much. Please take time to sign the guestbook located at the bottom of the page

Tributes

Catherine 'Kay' Shaeffer

July 29, 1928 - December 3, 2016