Catherine J. Shaffer, (Kate) 93, of Harrisburg, passed away Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at her home. Born February 21, 1931 in Des Plaines, IL, she was the daughter of the late Michael and Josephine (Cooney) Boyle and was preceded in death by her husband Gerald A. Shaffer, son Gary Shaffer, sisters Tootsie Docktor, Margaret Taylor, Jeanne Boyle, and brother Thomas Boyle. Surviving are her sons Michael Shaffer, Kevin M Shaffer and wife Karen, daughter Diane Shaffer, grandsons Victor Shaffer and wife Hallie, Samuel Shaffer, her sister Eileen Kent and husband Guy Golan, brother Patrick Kent and wife Penny, cousins Margaret O’Conner, Dermot Cooney, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and her extended Irish family. The funeral service is Thursday, August 22nd at Neill Funeral Home, 3501 Derry St., Harrisburg. Viewing is 10:00 am until the service at 11 am. Burial at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens to follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Central PA, 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or do a random act of kindness in honor of Kate.
Kate’s first job was scooping ice cream. Her boss would often scold, “Catherine, you’re a heavy dipper.” She was too generous, too hospitable. She earned a scholarship to St. Patrick’s Academy, an all-girl school. She wanted to be a nun till she discovered boys. She worked for a thread company followed by a job taking shorthand for the Chicago Northwestern Railroad. She wanted to be a nurse till a blind date with Gerald “Jack” Shaffer, a staff sergeant stationed at O’Hare Field, led to a 5 month courtship and marriage. It was love at first sight. After Jack was discharged from the Air Force they moved to Harrisburg, PA where they raised their family. Kate worked in the Personnel Department at Sears from 1962 – 1968. For the next 17 years she was a homemaker. At the age of 54, she graduated from HACC with certificates in Secretarial Science and Word Processing. A job with Pennsylvania Power and Light’s Customer Service Department soon followed. She retired a few years after Jack passed away.
Kate had an eagle eye for a great sale, coupon, or cost saving tip. Monday through Friday at 7:00 found her glued to Wheel of Fortune followed by Jeopardy. She had a thing for Alex Trebek. (One of her last requests was for the new Alex Trebek postage stamp.) Weekly visits to the hairdresser were sacrosanct. She loved her family and friends, babies and children, Turner Classic Movies, the daily newspaper, her card club, and her Irish heritage. She was not one to complain. When faced with difficult health issues, she’d tell herself, “I can do anything for 24 hours.”
This was a woman who strove for excellence in everything she did be it sewing, making drapes, or doing cross-stitch and needlepoint. But she was best known for her cooking and baking. No family celebration was complete without her buttermilk brownies. Her carrot cake was legendary. After tasting the Thanksgiving Day stuffing at the fine dining Hershey Hotel, she quipped, “mine’s better.”
Kate found joy and deep satisfaction in helping others. When asked for words of wisdom during her last days, she managed to say, “loving.” A heavy dipper to the end. She was the best of us.
