Coping with Grief
We would like to offer our sincere support to anyone coping with grief. Enter your email below for our complimentary daily grief messages. Messages run for up to one year and you can stop at any time. Your email will not be used for any other purpose.
Denny “Papa” Schafer, 75, passed away December 12, 2021. He was born November 25, 1946 in Akron to the late Matthew and Margaret Schafer. He graduated from the University of Akron and worked various places in manufacturing and wherever he worked, he was loved by all. Denny was an avid runner, running many marathons and passing the love onto his daughters. After he was diagnosed with cancer, he raised money by biking in the VeloSano fundraiser to help other families. He had an amazing ability to remember where he was when he first heard a song, he could tell you what he ate with all of his favorite memories and he could identify any car. Papa’s food was also famous across the country, especially his meatballs.
If you knew Denny, you loved him. We were blessed to learn many valuable lessons from him during his 75 years. Among them: Treat everyone as they are the most important person around; Make everyone feel appreciated; Everyone is welcome; Just be thankful; Nicknames are for the special ones in life; When you have a $1 bill and a $20 bill in your wallet and there is someone in need, share the $20; When faced with conflict, pray for peace; Seek first to understand, then to be understood; Always snuggle the snoot; Count your freckles, if you don’t have any, count your grandkids’ freckles; Use your smoke break, even if you don’t smoke; Soup comes in a can, beer comes in a bottle; Dance when Wooly Bully plays; Do the job right and do it well; If you step in something wet, rip your sock off immediately; Clean your car every week & it’s not clean unless the tires are scrubbed; You can store anything in your car trunk; If it’s on sale, buy 5; Cats are best used as football; Pray for the sick and for peace, every time you eat; Love.
Denny is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, MaryRita; daughters, Amy Schafer, Melanie (Kurt) Neading and Sarah (Kevin) O’Brien; grandchildren, Nathaniel, Charlie, Sam and Bella Neading and Liam O’Brien; brother, Matthew (Catherine) Schafer; as well as 10 nieces, 5 nephews and other extended family and countless friends.
Please join us for the Memorial Mass that will be held at 11 A.M. on Monday, December 20, 2021 at St. Paul Catholic Church, 241 S. Main Street, North Canton, Ohio 44720 with Fr. John Keener officiating. Family and friends may call from 9 A.M. until the time of the mass at the church. The family requests that masks be worn during calling hours and mass to protect the vulnerable and little ones. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Denny’s name to the Akron-Canton Regional Food Bank, 350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron, Ohio 44307-2234 or to VeloSano Cancer Research, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland, Ohio 44193-1655. Please put Denny’s name on the memo line of your check. To leave a special message online for the family, visit our website at www.schermesserfh.com.
We will also have a Celebration of Life party in 2022 to continue to honor this special man who shaped us all. Details will be shared once available.
SCHERMESSER
(330) 899-9107
www.schermesserfh.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dennis R. "Denny" Schafer, please visit our floral store.
Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
350 Opportunity Parkway, Akron OH 44307-2234
Tel: 1-330-535-6900
Web: https://www.akroncantonfoodbank.org/donate-money
VeloSano Cancer Research - Cleveland Clinic Foundation
P.O. Box 931517, Cleveland OH 44193-1655
Web: https://give.velosano.org
If sending a check please indicate the deceased name on the memo line