Sara Mae Schaeffer

Sara Mae “Big Mama” Senter Schaeffer, age 84, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2024 in St. Louis, Missouri surrounded by family. She was born on January 24,1940, in Montgomery, Alabama, to Sam and Ethel Senter.

Sara Mae was the beloved wife of Herbert Schaeffer (z’’l) and devoted mother to her sons Alan, Mark and Scott. She was cherished by her daughters-in-law Debbie, Jennifer, and Carla, and loved deeply by her grandchildren: Karen (Ari) Krischer; Lauren, Danielle, Sam, Isaac, Charlie and Will Schaeffer. Sara Mae was the beloved sister of Gloria (Bobby) Miller and Jack (z’ll)(Sylvia) Senter. She was preceded in death by her parents Sam and Ethel Senter.

Sara Mae attended the University of Alabama, where she was a member of Delta Phi Epsilon sorority.

Sara Mae and Herb were married on July 30, 1961 in Montgomery, where Herb was stationed in the Air Force, and later moved to Washington, DC and Dayton, OH before settling down in St. Louis, Herb’s hometown, to raise their family.

She was a teacher at Shirlee Green Preschool at Congregation Shaare Emeth for over 35 years, where she was known and beloved by multiple generations of Jewish families across the St. Louis area.

Known for her great love for her family and for her grandchildren – who “made her buttons pop” on a regular basis – Sara Mae was the quintessential Jewish grandma, her home and arms always open. As she liked to say, she loved them “with all her heart, all her soul and all her might.” She learned how to Venmo them money in her eighties – a skill she was particularly proud of.

A longtime volunteer with Life Seekers, Sara Mae was a friend to countless people, and she was always ready for a game of mahjong or cards of any kind. She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed by everyone who knew her, truly one of a kind.

Graveside service Tuesday, December 17th, 10 AM at Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery, 650 White Road. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Shirlee Green Preschool at Congregation Shaare Emeth.