On December 3, 2024, our beloved Pearl I. Schaefer, an amazing 100 years old, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, surrounded by her loving family. She is now reunited with her late husband of 64 years, Eli L. Schaefer and her precious daughter, Robin E. Groff.

Born in Brownstown, she was the daughter of the late Ralph J. Wert and the late Victoria (Coldren) Wert.

After finishing school, Pearl worked at the Animal Trap Company, when they converted their factory to produce bullet cores during World War II. She then went on to work at Penn Dairy, where she met her husband and married February 8, 1947. Pearl's most favorite and precious job was being a homemaker, mother, and grandmother. She was famously known as "Nanny" to her 14 grandchildren, 52 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Pearl attended Grace Community Church of Willow Street. She was a gracious, loving, and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. Pearl had one of the largest hearts anyone could have known. Filled with a passion for her family first and a hint of pranking, she loved to laugh and make those around her smile. Pearl had a sweet tooth and everyone knew she preferred lemon meringue pie, rice pudding, Lorna Dune cookies, or anything with jello over her dinner. If you were headed to her house, you would know the candy drawer was always full and there were cases of A-Treat Soda in the basement. Christmas was one of her favorite times of the year. Along with the traditional sand tarts and mince meat pie, there was the Christmas tree decorated with stuffed animals, dolls, and toys. She would then still have more toys underneath the tree for her many many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, or visitors that would come over the holiday season.

Pearl had many hobbies. She enjoyed working in her flower beds and vegetable gardens, crocheting, giving old furniture new life from ideas in her magazines and watching HGTV. She especially enjoyed collecting buttons. There were jars of buttons all around the house. She made button dolls and glued buttons on Christmas trees, lamp shades, and sewed them on pillows. Her heart was filled with joy taking care of animals. Pearl loved her many birds and was quite proud of the words she taught them to say. She would often allow the birds to fly free in the house. She had a horse named Trigger, and would let him roam free in the yard. He would follow her around as she did her weeding. She brought baby goats into the kitchen to stay for a time as she nursed them back to health and cared for the pigs in the barn. Her St. Bernard, Duke, was spoiled each morning with a piece of butter bread for breakfast. In her later years, you would always find her little dog, Lady, laying right by her side. Pearl had a heart of forgiveness and serving others. She leaves behind a legacy that anyone would be proud to call their own and memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Pearl is survived by 3 children, Roger E. Schaefer, Cynthia (Donald) Spangler of Mountville and Bonnie (Terry) Dickel of Lancaster; 14 grandchildren; 52 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Robin E. Groff; sisters Marian V. Wert, Dorothy Nagle, Lucille Kametz, and Joyce Rye; and a brother, James R. Wert.

Pearl's Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Byerland Mennonite Church, 931 Byerland Church Road, Willow Street, PA 17584 on Tuesday, December 10, 2024 at 11:00 AM with Pastor Mike Sigman officiating. The family will have a time to greet following the service. Inurnment will be private in Riverview Burial Park. Kindly omit flowers. Memorial remembrances can be made in Pearl's memory to
Livesong for Orphans (https://give.lifesong.org/lifesong/11213-ff ) to assist with adoption expenses of Pearl's great-granddaughter Or Legacy of Hope Foundation (https://legacyofhopefoundation.org/ways-to-give/online-giving/) founded by Pearl's grandson and his wife.