Alice Ann Schafer

Alice Ann Schafer, 95, of Detroit, Michigan, passed away on January 5, 2026, in Pompano Beach, Florida. She is survived by her husband John “Jack” Schafer, five children (three spouses), thirteen grandchildren (three spouses, two fiancés), and eleven great grandchildren.

Alice Ann Giffels was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan to Helen le Baron Whitely and Louis James Giffels on December 14, 1930. She earned a degree in Hotel, Restaurant and General Institutional Management from Michigan State University in 1953. After graduating, she worked in hotel administration for several hotels in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. She married John Kenneth Schafer on July 7, 1962, in Detroit. With Jack, Alice raised five children in Centerville, Ohio. They moved briefly to Alpharetta, Georgia before retiring to Pompano Beach, Florida in 1994. An avid reader, Alice ran the Book Caboose business, serving grade schools in Dayton and surrounding areas. Faith and family were the most important aspects of Alice’s life. She was an active member of the Catholic Church, most recently at Saint Gabriel Catholic Church in Pompano Beach, Florida. Family reunions were a special time of the year for Alice when family members gathered to bond over sun and sand, games, and family dinners. At these reunions, Alice became Nana to all.

Members of her family and descendants include: Son John (Ana Lotharius) of Charlestown, MA, son Eric (Annie) and children Genie, Lottie, Henry, and Margaret of Lexington, KY, son Scott (Elli) and children Jack and Greta, of Cincinnati, OH, and daughter Anne Catherwood, and her daughter Lillian of Columbus, OH; daughter Susan (Chris Pitzo), their daughter Olivia (fiancé Jon Loving) of Milwaukee, WI, their son Luke (fiancée Dorothy) of Charlotte, NC, and their daughter Isabella of Tulsa, OK; son Mark (Loveness), their son Penjani, their daughter Asimenye and her children Jaiveon, Jasmine, and Princeton, and their son Kenneth of Baton Rouge, LA; son James “Fritz” (late wife Victoria), their son John and his daughter Santana, their daughters Madelyn, and Grace of Chillicothe, OH, and their daughter Emily (Samuel Jeffries) of Columbus, OH; and son Christopher of Atlanta, GA. Alice is also survived by her two nieces: Colleen (Brian) of Bangkok, Thailand and Teresa (Kelly) of Inman, SC. She also leaves behind friends at their church and neighbors in Pompano Beach.

Alice Ann Schafer is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Peter Giffels, and her sister, Nancy Graham.

Alice’s family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to amazing care givers (Tina Parente and Jackie Harvey) and all her doctors and nurses at Holy Cross Hospital.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00am, February 13, 2026, at Saint Gabriel Catholic Church in Pompano Beach, Florida with Father Nathan officiating.