Nancy Schaaf Obituary

Nancy B. Schaaf BEAUFORT, SC - Nancy Blitch Schaaf, 85, entered into eternal rest with our Lord Jesus Christ on Saturday, June 22, 2024, in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, with her family by her side. Nancy was born to Melvin St. John and Maude Rampy Blitch on February 18, 1939, in Charleston, South Carolina. She is survived by her four devoted children, Kathy Curry and husband, Kevin, John Schaaf and wife, Ellen, Brian Schaaf and wife, Lisa, and Sally Tompkins and husband, Joseph. Affectionally called "Nanny", she will also be deeply missed by her thirteen grandchildren, two great-grand children, and by her caring sister, Sally Winship, and husband, Gerry. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Jack Schaaf, and her parents. Nancy graduated from St. Vincent's Academy, in Savannah and attended Mount Saint Agnes College in Baltimore. She was a second-grade teacher at Blessed Sacrament in Savannah for several years. In 1958, she married Jack Schaaf of Savannah. As the wife of a USAF pilot, she moved 11 times while raising their young family, before settling in Beaufort. The strength and foundation of Nancy's life was her Catholic faith and her family. She was a parishioner of Saint Peter's Catholic Church for over 40 years, serving as lay Eucharistic minister, the Decorating Committee, and member of the parish council. She was recognized as the Catholic Woman of the Year in the Diocese in 2002. Nancy was an active member of the Palmetto Garden Club and served a year as president. She was immensely patriotic, delighting her family and guests with a home adorned in red, white and blue every summer. She served as the Grand Marshal for The Shammy Creek 4th of July Parade in her neighborhood for 31 consecutive years. Her combined sense of civic duty and love of the natural world led her to pioneer conservation efforts in her community. She championed the combination of her role as Executive Director of the Beaufort County Trash and Litter Control with Keep America Beautiful and Adopt-a-Highway programs for the county. Under her leadership, she grew what was originally a pilot project for the state from three civic Adopt-a-Highway groups to over 45. In 1988, she was invited to the White House by then President Ronald Reagan to accept a national honor on behalf of the program. Nancy showed her family and friends how to live life with grace and dignity as she endured a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. The family would like to thank the caregivers who lovingly cared for Nancy especially Zelda Singletary, Angie Atkins and Dionne Salters. Funeral Mass will be held on July 5th, 2024, at 10:30 am at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Ladys Island, South Carolina, with a private burial following. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to John Paul II Catholic School, 4211 N. Okatie Hwy., Ridgeland, SC 29936. https://www.johnpaul2school.org/support-jpii/where-faith-innovation-meet/donate-now www.andersonfhsc.com