Caroline S. Shafer

Caroline S. Shafer, 79, of Meadville and formerly of Hatch Hill Rd., died Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at her residence following a period of declining health.

She was born December 4, 1931 in Bridgeport, CT, a daughter of Lee and Caroline Tatnall Sparks.  She married Paul D. (Pete) Shafer, Jr. June 14, 1952 and he preceded her in death June 9, 2008.

Caroline was a 1949 graduate of Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn, NY and attended Connecticut College.  She was a homemaker and formerly worked at Hoffman's Greenhouse.

She was a member of Stone United Methodist Church and the Meadville Garden Club.  She was a volunteer for the American Cancer Society and was a former committee member at the Meadville YWCA.  Caroline enjoyed gardening, constructing miniatures, traveling extensively with her husband and playing bridge, sewing and knitting and the many friendships she enjoyed as a part of her social activities. She also made Terraspheres which were sold at the former J.H. Nunn Company and during the Trees of Christmas at the Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum.

Survivors include four children, David Shafer and his wife Kathy of Meadville, Anne C. Peacock and her husband Douglas of Meadville, Timothy Shafer and his wife Martha of Augusta, GA, and Susan Corbran and her husband Barry of Venango; twelve grandchildren, Peter, James, Elizabeth and Allison Shafer, Mark, Christopher and Jonathon Blank, Matthew and Emily Shafer, Amy Rector, Michael Kochenash and Sarah Fraker; five step-grandchildren, Grant and Emily Peacock, Alicia Belovarac, and Heather and Jennifer Corbran; seven great-grandchildren, Cole, Bradyn and Tristan Blank and Natalie, Alyssa, Lauren and Noah Rector; a sister, Eleanor S. Gambell of Camden, ME; a sister-in-law, Dorothy M. Sparks of Wilmington, DE; many nieces and nephews and her beloved dog Abby.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by a sister, Mary S. Cook; a brother, Lee Sparks, III; and a sister-in-law, Lee Bobin.

Calling hours will be Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, 581 Chestnut St., Meadville.

A memorial service will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville with the Rev. Sarah Roncolato officiating.

Private interment will be in Greendale Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Stone United Methodist Church, 956 S. Main St., Meadville, PA 16335, Crawford County Historical Society, 411 Chestnut St., Meadville, PA 16335 or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Share your memories and condolences at www.waidfuneralhome.net.