Nancy Vanderhoof (Shaffer)

Mrs. Nancy (Shaffer) Vanderhoof was born at home in Cumberland Township, PA on June 28, 1940, and was embraced peacefully into the arms of her Savior on May 20, 2026 at Unity Hospital after a battle with dementia. Her 85 years of life were filled with laughter, warmth, caring for others, and family. She met her future husband, Wesley, at Roberts Wesleyan College (now University) while pursuing her degree. She earned a BS in Nursing from Roberts in 1962 and married Wes in August of that same year. She went on to earn her MS in Public Health from SUNY Brockport in 1992. Through those years, she worked in various hospitals throughout the country and across the Rochester area. Nancy truly dedicated her life to caring for others, not only as a nurse, but also as a mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. She is predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Wesley, (d. 2025); parents, George and Melissa Shaffer; siblings, Melvin, Norma Jean, Marie (Nygren), and Donald. She is survived and deeply missed by her children, Marna (Robert) Distaffen, and Kara (Richard) Burke; and her seven grandchildren, Kaleigh, Hannah, and Rebekah Distaffen, and Wesley, Emma, Cameron, and Andrew Burke. She is also survived by many beloved nieces and nephews who were very dear to her. While Nancy was known by many names, Grandma was her favorite. She loved hosting weekly family dinners, having the grandkids over for sleepovers, and attending many award ceremonies, graduations, piano recitals, concerts, and soccer games. She was a phenomenal cook who always made enough food to feed the whole neighborhood, just in case unexpected guests stopped over. At grandma’s house, snacks were a seven-course meal, there was no such word as “no,” and there were always seven kinds of cookies on the counter because everybody needed their favorites. Grandma was warm. She handed out hugs like the gum she always had in her purse, and she took care of people before she cared for herself. Her legacy and her love of family will live on through her children and grandchildren. She’ll be remembered for her one-liners, her caring nature, and the love she had for everyone who was blessed enough to cross her path. Quiet, but mighty, dementia didn’t steal her sense of humor or her love for those she cherished most. Extended friends and family are invited to attend a celebration of life and time of remembrance on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at Pearce Memorial Church, 4322 Buffalo Rd. North Chili, NY 14514. Visitation will be from 1-2pm, immediately followed by a service at 2pm. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the Dorothy Wittingham Scholarship at Roberts Wesleyan University, Office of Advancement 2301 Westside Dr. Rochester, NY 14624.

Nancy Vanderhoof (Shaffer)

June 28, 1940 - May 20, 2026