Obituary of Jetta E. Schaffer

Jetta E. Schaffer of Duxbury, passed away on November 10th at 90 after a brief illness.

Born on Martha’s Vineyard in Oak Bluffs and raised in Tisbury, she was the daughter of the late William and Jetta Entwistle. Her two brothers, Sturgis and Channing Entwistle have predeceased her. She grew up during the depression along with two of her friends, Shirley & Paula. They became life long friends and always gave each other the support they needed.

After high school, Jetta graduated nursing school at Newton-Wellesley hospital and worked as a nurse for a few years. After meeting her husband, Dick Schaffer, they lived on Virginia Beach together while he completed his tour in the Navy. They finally settled in Duxbury first on Soule Ave before building their home on Pinewood Lane in 1956.

She raised four children and many pets with loving care. Always stressing the importance of respect and dignity towards others. But Martha’s Vineyard never left her heart, she frequently visited the island during summers and always shared what she had learned from nature and the seashore. Her fondest memories were sailing around Tashmoo & Tarpoulin Cove. Around Duxbury she enjoyed gardening, playing bridge with friends and walks on the beach.

When her husband passed at an early age, she stepped in to run his business South Shore Kitchen and Appliance Center in Island Creek. She quickly learned appliances and kitchen cabinets while successfully running the business model for a period of about 5 years before selling it to an employee.

After running the family business she became very involved with her grand children and Duxbury’s Senior Center. Volunteering her time to help others and giving back. She loved to knit baby clothes, sweaters, blankets and Christmas stockings for her 9 grandchildren. She created a cookbook of her family’s favorite recipes entitled  “Mimi Loves You”, which also featured the story of her life on Martha’s Vineyard.  Her daughters note that she would conveniently forget a key ingredient, which would have made the recipe special leading one to conclude that she was the best cook in the family, which was always indisputable.

Wife of the late Richard Schaffer of Duxbury, she is survived by four children. Nancy von Stackelberg and her husband, Sandy von Stackelberg of Duxbury, Richard Schaffer and his wife Joanna Schaffer of East Falmouth, Susanne Garrity and her late husband, Robert Garrity of Lynn, William Schaffer and his wife Shannan Schaffer of Charlotte, North Carolina. Nine grandchildren and one great grandson.

There will not be visiting hours and a celebration of her life will be held at Shepherd’s Funeral Home, 216 Main Street, Kingston, MA at 1:00 pm on Saturday, November 17, 2018.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Old Colony Hospice, 321 Manley St, West Bridgewater, MA 02379