Alice Margaret Schafer

Alice Margaret Schafer, 79, of Ithaca, MI, passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family on Saturday, 7/30/2022 after battling cancer for more than 26 years.  

Alice was preceded in death by Audrey Schafer (daughter), Agnes & Lyle Kenney (parents) and survived by Alan Schafer Sr. (husband), her 3 sons and their wives Alan & Pam Schafer, Andrew & Nicole Schafer, Aaron & Claudia Schafer, Anne Barton (sister), Howard Kenney (brother), & Daniel Kenney (brother).   Surviving grandchildren Erik & Melissa Schafer, Dakota Schafer, McKenna Schafer, and great grand-daughter Margaret Schafer… and many other relatives and friends.

Alice was a true pillar of her community (Ithaca’s Person of the Year in 2017) and always saw and brought-out the best in everyone around her as Mother, Cub-Scout/Girl Scout-leader, Sunday-school teacher, neighborhood baby-sister, teacher, Ithaca’s first woman council member & Mayor, Board member at Thompson Home Library, Gratiot Commission on Aging, & Gratiot Community Credit Union.

Alice completed her teaching degree at CMU after her kids could be at home alone and started the Alternative Education School in Ithaca then retired from Ithaca Public Schools where she touched many lives.

Alice loved to volunteer, read, garden, cats, to listen and talk to everyone, advocate for under-dogs, genealogy, & family history. Alice always saw the good in everyone. Her front porch became the meeting place.

A memorial service will be held in honor of Alice at 11am on Thursday, August 4, 2022 at the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca with Mark Monroe officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the Gratiot Commission on Aging or to the Thompson Home Library.

The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.

Comments

[Jeanne DRUMMOND]

I never saw Alice in person many times as an adult. We went to North Star grade school together and saw each other every day. She truly was a very awesome person. I thank God for creating and making her the beautiful person that she always was.

[Marla Macha]

Al and family. Sorry to hear of your Mom’s passing. She was a strong woman and fought her illness for such a long time. God bless you and your family, may she rest in peace.

[Jerry & Cathy Timmons]

Schafer Family

We will always remember her smile and kindness. Alice was a great lady who made a difference in so many lives....there was never a stranger to her...they were all friends.

May she rest now.....peacefully watching over all of you.

[Ernest Rodriguez]

She was the best..she was the reason that I went back to school...I was always have respect for her...SHE WAS GREAT...R.I.P.

[Tanya Herrick]

What a wonderful woman,God be with the family, in my thoughts and prayers 🙏🙏🙏

[Diane Harrington]

Dear Schafer Family,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your wife, mom and grandmother. I have very fond memories of her as my Girl Scout leader and a family neighbor and friend for many years. I pray for God’s comfort and peace for all of you at this very hard time.
Love,
Diane

[Jacob oszust]

She was the best teacher my condolences go out to the Schafer

[Dave Lake]

My heartfelt condolences to all of Alice's family and friends. Alice was a true friend ever since our time as classmates at Ithaca - a truly special person in every way.

[Denise Harrington]

To Mr. Schafer and family,
Please know that you all are in my thoughts and prayers.

[Phyllis Smith]

I'm so sorry for your loss. Alice touched many lives,
she will be greatly missed.
Thanking God for Her Life.
Phyllis Smith 🙏🙏🙏

[Valerie Powis]

Alice was an amazing teacher and role model. She was always smiling and was caring & kind. Fly with the angels Mrs. Schafer!!!! Rest in Heaven....

[Lori Parks Wymer]

Alice was such a sweet woman and her family is the best. I babysat many times with the boys and was with them when Audrey was born. So excited when she finally got her girl! Then to have her taken so early. Now they are together. R.I.P. Alice. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Bethany kelley]

She was a wonderful person and great teacher even tho I never had her as a teacher but heard good things. Sending thoughts and prayers to the family

[Elizabeth Russell]

Oh, I am so sorry for your loss. Mrs. Shafer was my homeroom mother. She was absolutely wonderful! I was in Alan's grade. I will be thinking of you at this time. God bless you! Liz

[Carolyn Tugan Van Wagoner]

Alice was a very friendly, smart, likeable person and always wore a smile.
I imagine that Alice and Diane May Tester are rejoicing together today in heaven after both suffering for years together and passing on the same day.

[Merna Thompson]

So sorry for all of you but she didn't give up. I feel a sense of guilt in the fact I would set on my porch, she would sit on hers ,I couldn't do much for her but I certainly sent up prayers 😢 She did good raising her family. Well done!

[Steve and Denyse Matthews]

Mrs. Alice Shaffer was a beautiful, loving and intelligent teacher, parent, spouse and friend to so many of us who had the pleasure of knowing her! We are saddened at her passing...

[Ronda Peet]

My heart goes out to Al and his family. I worked with Alice for many years at North Elementary. She was such a compassionate teacher. She was the type of teacher that I wanted my own child to have. She fought her battle for many years with a positive attitude. Alice is now with her precious daughter. I cannot make the memorial but will be thinking of the family.

[Nancy Gott]

My only connection regrettably is sitting on the COA board with Alice. She was an extraordinary woman that cared for everyone she met. She devoted her life to help and has touched others with her compassion and kindness. Prayers for you and your family.

[Teresa Lippert]

I was one of Mrs. Schafer's alternative education students. She never gave up on me and changed my life forever. She is a true angel.

[Cheryl Yin]

Growing up in California, my family always spoke fondly about their sponsors in Ithaca, MI, which included the Alice, Alan, and the rest of the Schafer family. I feel so fortunate to have spent time getting to know Alice when I was completing my PhD program at the University of Michigan. She was always so incredibly kind, warm, and supportive of me in my educational endeavors, often reminding me of how proud she was of me. My family and I in California are so saddened to hear of her passing and send our deepest condolences to the family.

[Chelsey, Jillian & Petra Foster]

Dear Schafer Family,
Alice was a wonderful woman and leader in the community. Spending many hours with her in meetings, she was always looking for the fair outcome to any issues, and truly cared about everyone. I admired her strong convictions on everything she was involved in. I appreciated her support and mentorship while serving the City. Ithaca is blessed to have had her tireless support for so many years. You are all in our thoughts and prayers in this difficult time.

Chelsey, Jillian & Petra Foster

[Ron & Cheryl Krautstrunk]

Our sincere condolences go out to Al and the entire family. Alice touched so many people during her life. She was a very giving and thoughtful person and this community will certainly miss her.🌹

[Renee Dault]

The world was a better place for everyone she knew. She was an inspiration to me and many others. She was always an angel, and now she has her wings.

[Fred and Diana Page Grasley]

To the Schafer and Kenney families: My heart hurts for all of you and for everyone who knew Alice. To say she was a special, kind-hearted and loving person would be an understatement. She was all of that and so much more. Alice always recognized the best in others and made everyone she was around feel special and better for having known her. She will be leaving a huge, gaping hole in our lives. The best way I know to honor her memory will be remembering the beautiful person she was and trying to come close to emulating it. Rest In Peace my dear friend.