Phyllis Ellen Schaaf

Cardinals are often considered divine heralds of important events and were the dominant bird species at her homestead "Lawnsmere" in Fairfax County. As a lifelong bird lover, it is fitting to fancy that Mom was escorted to Heaven by her Cardinal friends. Over the years she rescued and rehabbed over 200 domestic and exotic avian species. She once rescued a Zebra finch in a tiny bamboo cage from a dark and crowded street market in Japan, and smuggled him back to California. She named him Fuji. Mom adopted many stray dogs and cats and even a few peacocks, geese, and ponies. The neighbors called her "The Bird Woman" and her grandson Hunter called her "Grandma Birdie". She loved each new addition as much as the previous one, especially babies who she could cup in her precious hands. She was up every morning at 5 am cleaning the bird rooms, foraging for wild greens and roots… before tending to her human flock once the sun was up.

Perhaps her love for all things came from being orphaned at a tender age. Her mother died when she was only nine. Her father was a submarine Captain in WWII, so she was sent off to a convent boarding school with her two sisters for the duration of the war.

Phyllis married Tom, fresh out of the US Naval Academy in 1953, and moved 11 times across the country like a gypsy caravan of kids and critters. Her ethnic chemistry served her well, 50% German work ethic and 50% Irish humor and temper. During the course of dad's three Vietnam combat deployments as a Naval Aviator, squadron casualties drew heavily on Mom as the Squadron Commander's wife and mother of an infant. She also bore responsibility for the morale and welfare of the 200+ dependent wives and children at home base NAS Lemoore.

After Dad's retirement and return to the old Virginia homestead, they staked out a new lot to build a log cabin at Lawnsmere. Mom could now devote more time to work, more birds, more everything. She could also indulge her artistic talents, oil and watercolor, Masters and Impressionists and calligraphy for invitations and documents. And of course, gift shopping and party planning for the growing number of grandchildren.

Time took its toll on her. The once beautiful hands of a young mom were now bony and careworn. But as I beheld her aged hands, I thought they were infinitely beautiful. They told the story of how many Thanksgiving dinners she had lovingly prepared, not to mention delicious daily meals throughout the year. How many dishes had been washed? How many diapers had been changed? How many animals loved and cared for? Those damaged 93 year old hands brought to mind Christ's nail-scarred ones. Our mother's hands were a reminder of the sacrificial love of Jesus.

As testament to how much she was loved, in her final week on this earth many of her children and grandchildren traveled great distances to be with "Shamma" one last time. Her dear friends and neighbors at Brookdale kept vigil, spending countless hours at her bedside, holding her hands in theirs. Groups of family and friends gathered at her bedside, sang her most beloved hymns and prayed.

Mom was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, CDR Thomas W. Schaaf, her father, CAPT Paul Curran, her mother, Louise Schulz Curran, and her two sisters, Joan and Paula.

She is survived by her six children, sixteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandsons.

When the Cardinals sing their cheery "cheep-cheep" in the late dusk, we will think of Mom and know God's presence.

"His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."