Barbara Helma Plehn Schaeffer

Barbara was born August 11, 1925 in Waynesboro, VA. She lived in Rochester, NY, Chapel Hill, NC, Oakridge, TN, Birmingham, AL, Clarence, NY, Nijmegen, Netherlands, Richmond, VA, Raleigh and Cary, NC. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard J Schaeffer, PH.D.

Barbara is survived by her two younger brothers Herbert Plehn and Roland Plehn: sons, Mark, Dan and Dean Schaeffer and their spouses as well as her daughter Tracey Kiser and her spouse. She also had 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Her father was a Lutheran Minister, which is where she learned to love God and devote time to work in the church. Over her many years of service to God, she directed choirs, directed VBS and served on church council at various churches. Mom also served in her community by teaching English as a second language to those who had moved here from foreign countries. Mom also volunteered at Rex Hospital and worked in the gift shop for many years.

Mom was very handy around the house. She was an excellent cook. We all learned to cook from her. At Christmas time, she baked the best cookies. She could also sew and make clothes and taught Tracey that skill too. She loved to play solitaire and she beat everyone who played in our wild family solitaire games with 6-8 people playing all at once! She was faithful, loving, and fun. She taught us right from wrong both in actions and attitudes. She had a great sense of humor, and was very generous with her time, energy and resources. All characteristics of a wonderful person and the mother we loved dearly.

Mom and Dad loved to travel and visited many countries including England, Canada, Japan, Turkey, Czechoslovakia, India, Africa, New Zealand, Scotland and more. The family lived in the Netherlands for a year when Dad was on sabbatical from the University of Buffalo. While there, we traveled throughout Europe visiting Germany, (our ancestral land), Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark and England. One place she always wanted to go but never made it to was Australia, and now, she has a granddaughter living there.

Services will be held at Resurrection Lutheran Church at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to her church, Resurrection Lutheran Church, 100 W Lochmere Dr, Cary, NC 27518 (919) 851-7248

Arrangement by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home Cary, NC