Jane Schaeffer

After a long illness, Jane Dempsey Schaeffer died peacefully at her home in Santa Paula, California on Sunday, January 25, 2015. Born to Martha McAuliffe and Denis J. Dempsey on June 9, 1922, Jane grew up as a fourth generation San Franciscan. After completing eighth grade at Star of the Sea parish school, she went on to graduate from St. Rose Academy. She received her BA from Dominican College of San Rafael in 1943. Jane taught English at the Katherine Delmar Burke School (Miss Burke's) in San Francisco and later worked for Time Magazine in the City.
On December 27, 1952, she married the late John Edward Schaeffer, moved to Westlake, and began raising their family of five daughters. Jane and John were among the founding members of Our Lady of Mercy Parish. After returning to the City, they were daily communicants and active members of St. Cecilia Parish for over 40 years. Jane worked for many years with various charitable groups in San Francisco - the Little Children's Aid Society, St. Elizabeth's Home, and the Little Sisters of the Poor. She was also an active member of the Women's Auxiliary for the Society of California Pioneers.
Together Jane and John were instrumental in the beginnings of Thomas Aquinas College, where John became a founding member of the Board of Governors. They wholeheartedly supported the College and were proud that all five of their daughters and three of their grandchildren (with two more this May) graduated from the school. The Schaeffer's support for Thomas Aquinas College as well as many other charities in the Bay Area was an inspiration for many.
In 2004 they left their beloved San Francisco and relocated to Ojai, where John died in 2005. Jane then moved to Santa Paula. She is survived by her devoted daughters and sons-in-law, Martha Long, Anne Forsyth, Mary and Fred Richard, Joan Waxtein, and Laura and Michael Langley. Jane's legacy also includes her 22 loving grandchildren, Jane and Michael Forsyth; John (Hannah) , Carmel, Jeannette, Robert, Thomas, Dominic, and Paul Richard; Bernardo, Gabrielle, and Joseph Waxtein; and David, Aaron, Clare, Margaret, Kathleen, Gianna, Emma, Laura, Marie and Celine Langley.
Jane was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John, her parents, Denis Dempsey and Martha McAuliffe Dempsey, her brother, John P. Dempsey, her sons-in-law, George Forsyth and Kevin Long, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A Rosary vigil will take place in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel at Thomas Aquinas College at 7:00 pm on Friday, January 30. A Requiem Mass will be offered at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 31, also at the College. Interment will follow at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery in Santa Paula.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Reardon Funeral Home in Oxnard, California. Masses for the repose of Jane's soul are preferred. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the John and Jane Schaeffer Scholarship Fund at Thomas Aquinas College, 10000 Ojai Road, Santa Paula, CA 93060.

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