Judith Kay (Staats) Schafer

Judith Kay Schafer (nee Staats), age 81, passed away at Inspira Hospital in Vineland on January 27, 2025 surrounded by loving family.

Judith was predeceased by her high school sweetheart and husband of 60 years, Ellsworth C. Schafer Sr.  The daughter of the late Richard and Margaret Staats, she was born in Pittsburgh, PA.She graduated from Pennsville High School in 1961 and happily started her family. Judy was a talented and creative soul and had a variety of jobs until she found her true passion, becoming a school bus driver. She drove for 39 years and was famous for telling her family “I could park a bus in there!” Judy also loved to country line dance and could never get enough. Ellsworth and Judy enjoyed traveling and went on numerous cruises over the years and even rode the rapids in Colorado. She was a bit of a daredevil always looking for another hot air balloon or by-plane to jump into. Judy was deeply rooted in family and they will simply never be the same without her.

Survived by her children, Penni Foster and her husband, Ronald of Pennsville, NJ; Ellsworth C. Schafer Jr. and his wife, Ligaya of Bridgeton, NJ; 8 grandchildren, Elijah Foster, Ronni Foster, Cindi Strong (Dominic), Holli Pierce (Dylan), Kelsey Schafer, Krysten Ayars (Ryan), Richard Foster (Lindsey), Darrah Pilieri (David); 4 great grandchildren; her sister, Mildred Brenner of Tampa, FL; brother-in-law, William Schafer (Catherine); and her beloved dog, Maggie.

Services will be private.

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