Maria Jadwiga Shaffer

Maria Jadwiga Shaffer, beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, stepmother, and friend, left this world peacefully on September 15, 2016, after a long struggle with Parkinsons disease.Born in Poznan, Poland to Irena and Mieczyslaw Mumler, Maria lived her early years in Poland with her parents and older sister, Anna. After the end of WWII, Maria and her family immigrated to the United Kingdom where her younger sister, Teresa, was born.As a young woman, Maria was vivacious, spontaneous and full of life. She loved to dance, belonged to a Polish dance troupe and dreamed of becoming a ballerina, but her fascination with the workings of the human body eventually led her to become a physical therapist. Maria came to the United States in 1964, first to California and then to Seattle, WA, where she worked for the state of Washington. There, she met and married Don Shaffer. After her daughter, Anna, was born, motherhood and family became her main focus.Maria and Don raised Anna in Lake Forest Park, WA, where they remained for the duration of their 44-year marriage. Maria and daughter Anna flew back to Europe regularly, spending many happy summers visiting family and friends in London and traveling to surrounding cities and countries. Though Maria eventually obtained American citizenship, she remained passionate about her home country and retained her Polish citizenship, customs and traditions throughout her life.A refined, graceful and elegant woman, Maria had a deep love and appreciation for the arts, including opera, ballet, theater and classical music. She loved to travel, sing, paint, and play the guitar and piano. Maria also enjoyed activities such as tennis and skiing in the Cascade Mountains before a number of health problems, including Parkinsons, robbed her of her physical strength and mobility.Maria appreciated beauty and the simple things in life. Her eyes would light up and she would exclaim in delight each and every time she saw Mt. Rainier, a colo sunset, or a beautiful flower. She was kind, gentle and giving, always helping out those in need, and had a soft spot for children and the elderly.Even after she became ill, Maria had a smile that could light up a room. Her iron will and strong spirit persisted despite the ravages of Parkinsons disease until the day her sweet and beautiful soul departed this world. She will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by her family and friends.Maria is survived by her husband, Don; daughter, Anna Shaffer; sister, Teresa Pond (Arthur); stepchildren, Shelly McAllister (Tim), Donna Wick (Ron) and Don Shaffer; and a number of nieces, nephews, and other family members. She was preceded in death by her parents and older sister, Anna Glowacki.A viewing will be held on Monday, September 26, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Becks Tribute Center in Edmonds, WA. A funeral mass celebrating Marias life will be held on Tuesday, September 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church, 18033 15th Pl NE, Shoreline, WA 98155 with a recn immediately following. Burial at Holyrood Cemetery in Shoreline, WA, will follow the recn.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Marias name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research (michaeljfox.org), Living Beyond Breast Cancer (lbbc.org) or Catholic Relief Services (crs.org). Announcement: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Marias name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research (michaeljfox.org), Living Beyond Breast Cancer (lbbc.org) or Catholic Relief Services (crs.org).