Sr. Judith Anne Schaeffer

1938 - 2025

Sr. Judith Anne
Schaeffer
December 10, 1938
August 3, 2025

Sister Judith Anne Schaeffer passed away suddenly on Sunday morning, August 3, 2025, just before she would have played the organ for the morning prayers of the sisters at Mount St. Francis, Colorado, Springs, Colorado. She was born in Hammond, Indiana, December 10, 1938, the daughter of Edward M. Schaeffer and Blanche Schellenbauer Schaeffer. Her baby sister Susan pre-deceased her. Judith will be sorely missed by siblings Mary Elizabeth Schaeffer Conroy (Thomas Francis Conroy), Dr. Anthony Schaeffer (Kathleen Novosel Schaeffer), Helen Schaeffer Giometti (David Giometti, deceased), nine nieces and nephews and their spouses, twenty-six grand nieces and nephews, and her fellow sisters, many colleagues, students, and friends.
Judith Anne Schaeffer was a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration, St. Joseph Province, Colorado Springs. She began her career at St. Francis College, Fort Wayne, Indiana, as Academic Dean. She earned her doctorate in clinical/counseling psychology from Loyola University, Chicago. Her 40-year practice included psychotherapy, assessment, and supervision of interns and residents. Another ministry was Franciscan Community Counseling Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Her specializations included developmental stages and processes of psychological growth as well as transference phenomena. Her publications include several scholarly articles, four psychology courses that became de rigueur for continuing education in her field, and a pathbreaking book entitled Transference and Countertransference in Non-Analytic Therapy. Her newest book on a new way of looking at the Catholic gospels will be published posthumously. In addition to art and music, Sr. Judith Anne loved the outdoors, hiking regularly and taking great interest in several species. She also was involved in many charities, including the founding and board service of Bakhita Mountain Home for Trafficked Women in Colorado Springs.
The funeral Mass for Judith Anne Schaeffer will take place Thursday, August 21, at 10:30 in St. Francis Parish Church, followed briefly by her interment in the Sisters of St. Francis Cemetery on the Campus of Mount St. Francis, 7550 Assisi Heights, Colorado Springs, CO 80919. Viewing will take place Wednesday evening at 5:15 in the Convent Chapel.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Bakhita Mountain Home (https://bakhitamountainhome.org). Other options are the Colorado Springs Philharmonic or Colorado Springs Chamber Orchestra, which Judith regularly attended.