Rose M. Pieszala Schafer

Rose M. Pieszala Schafer

Rose M. Pieszala Schafer, 96, of Erie, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at Elmwood Gardens following a brief illness. She was born January 22, 1921 in Oakfield, New York, a daughter of the late Joseph and Victoria Luzarowska Pieszala.

She was retired from Harrison Radiator where she worked for over 40 years.

Rose dedicated her life to her family and was a much loved, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and aunt. She was fiercely independent, wise and very smart. She loved her God and her Catholic faith with all her heart.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon R. "Monk" Schafer; one sister, Anna Gordon; and four brothers, Harry, Joseph, Pat and Emil Pieszala.

She is survived her daughter Kathleen Iarussi of Erie; her son Richard Schafer (Jan); Lancaster, NY; one sister, Antoinette Gojmerac (Charles), Eden, NY; one sister-in-law Bessie Pieszala of Florida; seven grandchildren, Michele Schroeck (John), Ralph Iarussi, Jacquelyn Ugale (Nick), Matthew Engelbach, Andrew Engelbach-Schafer, Jeffrey Engelbach-Schafer, and James Engelbach-Schafer; five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call at the John R. Orlando Funeral Home, Inc., 2122 Raspberry Street on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday at the Lombardo Funeral Home, 3050 Abbott Road, Orchard Park, NY from 4 to 8 p.m. and are invited to a Funeral Mass on Friday at Holy Family RC Church, 1885 South Park Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14220 at 11:30 a.m.. Burial will be in St. Adalbert Cemetery in Lancaster, NY.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Charity of one's choice.