Eleanor Shaff

Eleanor Shaff, 88, of St. Joseph, passed away November 7, 2009 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00A.M. Monday, November 16, 2009 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 619 Market St., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Friends may call from 2:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Sunday, November 15, 2009 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or donor's choice. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guestbook online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Eleanor was born May 9, 1921 in Cassopolis, MI to David & Emily (Miller) Garrelts. She graduated from Lake Michigan College in 1971 and later received her bachelor's from Western Michigan University. On August 12, 1943 she married Edward Shaff. Eleanor worked at Guard School as a teacher's aid in St. Joseph. Eleanor was a member of the Retired Teachers, Trinity Lutheran Church and Alpha Beta Epsilon. In her spare time she enjoyed traveling, golfing and gardening. Eleanor is survived by her three children Karen (Alfred) Wassilak of Algonquin, IL, Dennis Shaff of Mishawaka, IN and Deanna Shaff of St. Joseph; six grandchildren Eric Wassilak of Jackson, MS, Rebecca (Francisco) Garcia of Round Lake Beach, IL, John (Deidre) Wassilak of Carpentersville, IL, Edgar Shaff of Osceola, IN, Jacob (Dana) Shaff of Kalamazoo, MI and Emilie Shaff of Edwardsburg, MI, great grandchild Quintin Davis; brothers Arnold Garrelts of Dowagiac and Jim Garrelts of Edwardsburg. Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Amanda Corpi, and brothers Raymond and Harry Garrelts.