Barbara Schafer

Barbara Schafer gladly shared her time, energy and love with the world, expecting little in return. She always made time for family and friends, and the kindness and love she showed were just a few of her special qualities. Her personality shone like the sun – warm and embracing those around her. Barbara had the unique way of making everyone feel special and blessed to be part of her life.

Though the Great Depression hit many families hard during the 1930s, John J. Howorth and his wife, Beatrice (Stoddard), of Ionia, Michigan was blessed with many gifts. Among them was their daughter, Barbara, who was born on September 12, 1932. A bubbly and energetic little girl, Barbara grew up in a humble home on her grandfather’s farm in Ionia with her sister, Rosemary, and brothers, Roy and Charles. Because they lived in the country, Barbara attended a one-room schoolhouse until high school, and then went on to graduate from Ionia High in 1951. Thereafter, she went to work at Berger Motor Sales for a while before taking a job at Ionia Manufacturing.

Barbara met her future husband, Henry Schafer, in a pretty unique way. It just happened that Barbara’s brother was marrying Henry’s sister, and they met at their wedding. There is nothing more romantic than a wedding and it was here that Henry and Barbara’s love started to blossom. After an 11-month courtship, the two were happily married on September 22, 1956, in Ionia. The newlyweds made their home together in Pewamo, and it was here they would raise their four wonderful children: Brenda, Diane, Keith and John. While Henry supported their family working at Fisher Body in Lansing, Barbara devoted herself to the role of a mother – which everyone knows can be a challenging task at times. But, there wasn’t anything that Barbara wouldn’t do for her kids.

Time together was always important to Barbara and Henry, and they shared many wonderful memories as a family at their cabin in Meredith in northeastern Michigan. It seemed that Henry was always adding on to the cabin to accommodate their expanding family. The most memorable parts of their trips were the amazing campfires and roasting hot dogs, and the not so fond memories of raking leaves. At some time, Barbara and Henry bought a camper and they began family camping trips too. Later on, the couple bought a trailer home at Lake Isabella, where many of their friends and neighbors already had vacation spots. There were so many of them from Pewamo in that area that they called it “Pewamo-ville.” Once the couple had an empty nest at home, they started spending their weekends on Lake Isabella, taking early morning fishing trips on their pontoon, and simply enjoying their time together. As they grew older, Barbara and Henry began wintering in sunny Florida, which were some of the greatest years of their lives. They had wonderful friends there they socialized with, and the buffets were out of this world.

Although Barbara loved getting away, she couldn’t wait to get back home and spend time with her precious grandchildren, whom she adored. She was always a good listener, a support and shoulder to lean on for her loved ones, and she had this knack of calling when it was dinnertime, but it was always great to hear her comforting voice. Barbara had many great friends she enjoyed keeping in touch with. She had a standing date with a group of her friends every Friday, which she hated to miss. Later, Barbara had two very special friends in her life – Dorothy, who sadly died in 1981, and Doreen, who cared for Barbara until her passing.

Around 2003, life changed for Barbara as her beloved Henry suffered a stroke and she took on the role of his caregiver. It wasn’t long before her tender care was extended to others in the nursing home too. In the past couple of months, Barbara had suffered a series of strokes and she went to live at Grace Haven Assisted Living. She loved it there and quickly made many new friends, who became her “little family” away from home. Barbara was determined to stay active and every day when the staff took the residents for a walk, she was right there with her walker ready to go. Barbara was a longtime member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pewamo.

Barbara Schafer was truly a beautiful woman, inside and out. She purposely looked for ways to give to others, always thinking of their needs before her own. Her kind heart and easy manner won her many friends who considered it a privilege to know her. Barbara was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who did everything she could to support and encourage her loved ones. She will be deeply missed.

Barbara A. Schafer of St. Johns, MI (formerly of Pewamo) passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2009, at the age of 76. She is survived by her daughters, Brenda Goerge and Diane (Robert) McKinney, and her sons, Keith (Tina) Schafer and John (Denise) Schafer. Barbara is also survived by her grandchildren: Brandy (John) Murray, Sherri Schafer, Jennifer Schafer, Danielle Goerge, Abigail Goerge, Samuel McKinney, Allison McKinney, Heinz Kirkpatrick, April Bensel, Crystal Bensel and Janelle Bensel; 12 great grandchildren; brothers: Roy (Pat) Howorth and Charles (Joan) Howorth; special friend, Doreen Lewis; and many nieces and nephews. Along with her parents, Barbara was preceded in death by her sister, Rosemary Howorth.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 18, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Pewamo, burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery also in Pewamo with the Rev. Fr. Charlon Mason officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, and from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 17, at the Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass Street in St. Johns. There will be a rosary service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday evening. Sympathy may be expressed in the form of contributions to Hazel I. Findley Country Manor, 1101 S. Scott Road, St. Johns, MI 48879. Please visit Barbara’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory/thought with her family or sign her online guest book.