Mary Shaffer
December 26, 2015
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Service Details
Mary Elizabeth Shaffer
July 25, 1912 – December 26, 2015
Mary was born to John &Cecelia (Priester) Elbert in Whittemore, IA. She was the oldest of 5 children. Mary graduated from Presentation Academy, Whittemore, IA, and from nursing school in Fort Dodge, IA. She worked in private nursing practice till she was 32 when she met and married Ralph Edward Shaffer. After raising her children, she was the nursing supervisor at Heather Manor in Des Moines, IA.
Mary was a member of Visitation Catholic Church where she was in the Legion of Mary Society and was President of the Rosary Society. She was dedicated to the care of her husband, her children, Ralph’s parents who lived with them and many others,
Mary is survived by her children, Tom Shaffer of Des Moines, IA, Magaret (Jimmie) Prothero of Malone, WI, and Jane (Keith) Pickett of Scottsdale, AZ; her grandchildren, Jeff (Michelle) Pickett of Las Cruces, NM, Sara Pickett of Phoenix, AZ, and Eric Pickett of Sandpoint, ID; her great-grandchildren, Lila, Jack, and Luke Pickett of Las Cruces, NM; her brother, Tom Elbert of Ames, IA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph G. Shaffer.
Visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., concluding with a Rosary service, Friday January 1, 2016 at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, January 2, 2016 at Our Lady of the Americas Visitation Catholic Church, 1271 E 9th Street, Des Moines, with interment to follow at Glendale Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Bishop Drumm Center Special Services in Mary's memory.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Michael Elbert
01/02/2016
Aunt Mary our love for you has always been something special. Spending time in your home with your family as a child and later in my 20's, when I was dating my wife from Des Moines, allowed me to become close to you and your family. Mary always took care of me and I felt like your home was my home away from home.She was always very caring and accepting of everyone. The love of our lord which she openly showed was one of her greatest accomplishments along with her great sense of humor. Suretta and I, along with our family, are certain Mary was welcomed into heaven with open arms since she was such a loving and caring person.
Cathy Smith
12/31/2015
I will never forget how Mary's medical knowledge and caring concern may have saved my life. When I was about 11 or 12, I was playing in a piano recital at Drake University in Des Moines. I had a new dress that was very starched and caused a lot of "itching." I was very nervous about the recital because I was going after my 3rd excellent. The itching would not quit and my neck was very red so my mother took me to Aunt Mary's house because she was a nurse. They put me in some type of calamine bath to try to reduce the swelling from the hives that had developed. Mother decided to take me back to Ames to see our doctor when the hives would not go away. Mary insisted on riding with us to keep an eye on me. She kept looking at my finger nails (at the time, I had no idea why). We got some medication from the doctors office, but the hives still would not quit. Mary was watching to see if my fingernails were turning blue. When they did, it was off to the hospital. That was when I pretty much freaked out because I saw no reason to be hospitalized until I nearly passed out going down the stairs. Mary really showed me the loving and kind nurse that she was. Always calm in the face of a crisis. I have never forgotten that day and I have never played piano again. Mary was an exceptional person and lived an exceptional life.
David Elbert
12/29/2015
Mary Shaffer was my Dad's sister and the oldest of John J. Elbert and Cecilia Priester Elbert's children. She was an incredibly fun person to be around and set a wonderful example for her younger siblings, Marjory, John, Willis (my Dad) and Tom. Of that generation and their spouses, only Tom is left. Marys father, John J. died in 1927, forcing her to grow up quicker than she might otherwise have done. But she shouldered that burden without ever flinching, just as she did every other winkle in life. I think her marvelous sense of humor is one reason she lived as long as she did. Many of us in the next generation thought she might even break her own mothers record of living to 109. Sadly, that was not to be. Before she left, though, Mary left us all with incredible happy memories, for which we are forever grateful. Also, its nice to think that now Mary is once again with Ralph Shaffer, the wonderful man she met and fell in love with so many years ago.
Shannon Dorrian
12/29/2015
Mary was one of the very first residents I had the pleasure of taking care of at Martina Place a few years ago. Her beautiful smile, contagious laugh and her love for spending time in one certain "room" in her apt. Every night when I would tuck Mary into bed I would hug her goodnight, just in case I would be the last person she would see. She spoke of her family often and Mary was the one person who taught me how much family means to a person as they age. Tom, you are a wonderful son and I am honored to have known your mother. My heart goes out to you, this world has lost a wonderful woman!