Shirley A. Schaertel

Shirley A. “Mom” Schaertel, 80, of Harrisburg, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2015. She was the beloved wife of Rev. John C. Schaertel for 57 years. Shirley was born in Philadelphia on January 5, 1935, a daughter to the late Edwin and Emily (Schaefer) Davis. Shirley worked as a teacher, both full time and as a substitute, for the Central Dauphin School District and the Thompson Institute, teaching Phys Ed, Health, Math, English, and Computer Programming. Her passion for teaching extended into her ministry as a pastor’s wife. She was able to teach and guide the members of her church and offer them sound advice. She was an athlete; she played softball in college, bowled with 3 leagues, and she was in a volleyball league until she was 60. She enjoyed watching her grandchildren play at their various events. She was a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Harrisburg, where she taught Sunday School and sang in the choir. Shirley was known as “mom” to all of her students, genuinely caring for others’ well-being, Shirley will be dearly missed. In addition to her loving husband, John, she is survived by her son, Brian Schaertel and his wife, Toni of Harrisburg; her daughters, Eleanore McLaughlin and her husband, Brett of Atlanta, Diane Kakareka of Overland Park, KS, and Rita Capp and her husband, Kyle of Mechanicsburg; grandchildren, Joshua Hetrick, Cameron and Ian Capp, Nicole Kakareka, and Kara Schaertel; her brother, Donald Davis and his wife, Constance, of Fogelsville; and her sister, Ruth Mucha of Lafayette Hills. Viewing will be Sunday, April 26, 2015 from 1:30pm-3pm at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 420 N Progress Ave, Harrisburg, PA 17109, with a funeral service to begin at 3pm. Burial will be on Monday, April 27, 2015 at 10am at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be offered to Our Saviour Lutheran Church. To offer the family condolences, please visit, www.HetrickBitner.com