Pieternella Schaffers
Pieternella Hermina DeRijke Schaffers, known as Nel to her family and friends, died on September 21, 2015 in West Chester, Pa., after a long season of declining health. She was 84.
Nel was born on February 8, 1931 in Harlem, The Netherlands. She grew up during the Nazi occupation of Holland along with her two younger brothers. She married Wim Schaffers in 1954 and together they immigrated to America in 1957 with their two small children for a job with the DuPont Company in Wilmington, DE. Nel was active in her church (Faith Presbyterian Church) and community while caring for their five children. After Wim's retirement from DuPont, they moved once more to Lookout Mountain for Wim to take up a teaching post at Covenant College. Once again Nel became involved in her church, Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church, as well as offering loving hospitality and counsel to many Covenant College students. She was widowed in 2009. She moved back to the northeast to be cared for by her daughters as her health failed.
Nel is survived by her two brothers and their spouses: Pieter and Cheryl DeRijke; Frans and Anje DeRijke (in Holland); her sister-in-law, Anneke Thompson (in Canada); her five children and their spouses, Andy and Sharon Schaffers; Elsbeth and Lewis Codington; Wilma and John Roberts; Corlien and Glenn Horsky; and Wim and Karen Schaffers; as well as 29 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. She is finally reunited with her beloved Wim and with her Savior Jesus.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Covenant College WJ Schaffers Scholarship Fund.
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 2, at the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.