Patricia A. Shaffer Obituary: Murrysville Woman Dies at 77

Patricia Ann (Skuta) Shaffer, a longtime Murrysville, Pennsylvania, resident and dedicated Rotary volunteer, died at her home on November 30, 2023. She was 77 years old.

Known to family and friends as Pat, Shaffer spent much of her later life supporting charitable and community causes. Her work with Rotary International became a major part of her legacy, particularly her efforts to support the worldwide fight against polio and her involvement in projects that helped provide medical equipment to people in need.

Her published obituary describes a woman who found purpose in helping others and who built lasting friendships through community service. Patricia was also remembered for her family relationships, generosity, travels and commitment to organizations that reflected her desire to make a practical difference.

Background: Who Was Patricia A. Shaffer?

Patricia Ann Skuta Shaffer was born on August 1, 1946, in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Martin and Helen (Steets) Skuta, both of whom preceded her in death.

She grew up in western Pennsylvania and graduated from Tarentum High School in 1964. Her education was followed by a professional career as a certified real estate broker, a field in which she worked for many years.

Although her professional career was an important part of her life, her later years became strongly associated with volunteer service. Through Rotary, Shaffer developed a reputation for taking on responsibilities and supporting projects that reached beyond her own community.

Latest Update: September 30, 2026

As of September 30, 2026, Patricia A. Shaffer’s death remains documented in published obituary and community records from 2023. She died at her Murrysville home on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at age 77. The obituary published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette identifies her as Patricia Ann (Skuta) Shaffer and provides details about her family, career, Rotary work and funeral arrangements.

The Municipality of Murrysville also recognized Shaffer’s death during a December 6, 2023, public meeting. The municipality’s minutes referred to Pat Shaffer as a longtime member of the local Rotary community and described her and another recently deceased Rotary member as outstanding members of the community.

No specific medical cause of death is given in the published obituary. The available source therefore supports the fact of her death and its location but does not provide a diagnosis or other detailed medical explanation.

Early Life and Education

Shaffer was born in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, on August 1, 1946. Her parents were Martin and Helen (Steets) Skuta.

She attended Tarentum High School and graduated with the class of 1964. Her connection to western Pennsylvania remained an important part of her life, eventually leading to her long residence in Murrysville.

The obituary does not provide extensive details about her childhood or teenage years. Instead, it focuses primarily on the adult life she built through her career, marriage, family relationships and extensive community involvement.

Career as a Real Estate Broker

Patricia Shaffer was certified and worked as a real estate broker for many years. Her professional experience gave her a career in which she worked directly with people and families in the community.

The published obituary does not provide the name of a specific real estate company or a complete employment history. It does, however, identify real estate brokerage as her established professional field.

Her professional life later became closely connected with a different form of service. After experiencing Rotary through her husband, Theodore “Ted” Shaffer, she eventually joined the organization herself and became deeply involved in its work.

Marriage to Theodore Shaffer

Patricia was married to Theodore “Ted” Shaffer. Her obituary states that she became familiar with Rotary while accompanying her husband, who had served as a Rotary District Governor, to Rotary events.

Those experiences introduced her to the organization’s service principles. Rather than remaining only a participant through her husband’s involvement, Patricia eventually joined Rotary herself after his death.

Her obituary identifies Theodore Shaffer among the family members who preceded her in death. Their connection to Rotary became one of the defining threads of Patricia’s later community life.

Rotary Service and Community Work

Rotary became a major part of Patricia Shaffer’s life. After joining the organization, she embraced its motto of “service above self” and became involved in both local and international projects.

She held multiple positions within her Rotary district and received awards recognizing her work. One of the honors mentioned in her obituary was the Citation for Meritorious Service Award from Rotary International, which she considered a significant achievement.

Her work was not limited to attending meetings or participating in social activities. She took on projects that focused on practical humanitarian needs, including efforts connected with medical equipment and the global campaign against polio.

Work Against Polio

One of Shaffer’s primary Rotary interests was polio eradication. She served as a district polio chairperson and worked to raise awareness and financial support for the international effort.

She traveled to India twice to participate in National Immunization Days, commonly known as NIDs. Those trips gave her firsthand exposure to vaccination work and strengthened her commitment to the effort to eliminate polio.

According to her obituary, Shaffer remembered the impact polio had on children in the United States when she was young. She used those memories and her experiences abroad when speaking to Rotary clubs and encouraging support for eradication efforts.

Her work reflected the broader international role of Rotary in supporting vaccination campaigns. For Shaffer personally, the cause combined her interest in service with a subject she regarded as deeply important because of what she had seen and remembered.

Brother’s Brother Medical Equipment Project

Another cause particularly important to Shaffer was Brother’s Brother, an organization involved in providing medical equipment and other assistance domestically and internationally.

She supported the organization financially, but her involvement went further. During the year she served as president of her Rotary Club, she created and implemented a Rotary project designed to collect and recycle used medical equipment for distribution through Brother’s Brother.

The project allowed equipment that might otherwise have gone unused to be redirected toward people and communities that needed it. It became another example of how Shaffer translated her interest in charitable service into practical projects.

Family and Relatives

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Helen Skuta, as well as her husband Theodore Shaffer.

She was also preceded in death by her brother John Martin Skuta, his wife Constance, nephew Travis Max Miller and niece Mary Jo Teske.

She is survived by her sister, Mary Kay Skuta Miller, along with six nieces and nephews: H. Samuel Miller and his wife Rebecca; Christine Skuta; Marty Skuta; Michael Skuta; Richard Skuta and his wife Donna; and Doug Teske.

Her surviving family also includes six great-nieces and great-nephews: Gabriella, Laura, Max, Ryan, Andrew and Eleni, and Brett.

Patricia was also survived by two step-grandchildren, Elizabeth Kenny and her husband Donall, and Jennifer Page and her husband Robert. The obituary lists seven step-great-grandchildren as part of her surviving family.

A Generous and Social Life

The obituary portrays Shaffer as someone who formed strong friendships through her community activities. Her Rotary work introduced her to people who shared her interest in service, and those relationships became an important part of her social life.

The obituary specifically describes her as generous and says she supported many religious and secular causes. Her charitable interests were therefore broader than any single organization or issue.

She also valued the people she met through service. Her obituary says she loved working with like-minded people who became close friends and emphasizes that she was not lonely because of the many relationships she developed.

Personal Legacy

Shaffer’s obituary presents her legacy primarily through the people she helped and the causes she supported. Her work with Rotary provided a way for her to contribute locally while also participating in international humanitarian efforts.

Her involvement in polio eradication stands out because it connected her personal memories with a worldwide public-health campaign. Her medical-equipment project similarly showed an interest in practical solutions that could benefit people beyond her immediate community.

The obituary describes her as having lived a life devoted to helping others and says her work left a lasting impression on the people who knew her. Her community also publicly recognized her contribution shortly after her death.

Cause of Death

The published obituary does not state Patricia A. Shaffer’s specific cause of death. It confirms that she died at her home in Murrysville on November 30, 2023, at age 77.

No medical condition, accident or other circumstance should therefore be presented as her cause of death without an additional reliable source. The available obituary provides no such diagnosis.

Funeral and Memorial Arrangements

Patricia’s visitation was scheduled at Hart Funeral Home Inc. in Murrysville. The obituary listed visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 7, 2023, and again from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, December 8.

A funeral Mass was scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Export, Pennsylvania.

Interment was to be private at Greenwood Memorial Park. The family requested that people wishing to honor Patricia’s memory consider memorial contributions to The Rotary Foundation for the eradication of Polio.

Quick Facts About Patricia A. Shaffer

Reader Questions

Who was Patricia A. Shaffer?

Patricia Ann (Skuta) Shaffer was a Murrysville, Pennsylvania, resident, real estate broker and longtime Rotary volunteer. She became particularly known for community service and her work supporting polio eradication.

When did Patricia A. Shaffer die?

Patricia A. Shaffer died on November 30, 2023. She was 77 years old and died at her home in Murrysville.

How old was Patricia Shaffer when she died?

She was 77. Patricia was born on August 1, 1946, in Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania.

What was Patricia Shaffer’s cause of death?

The obituary does not state a specific cause of death. It confirms that she died at her home in Murrysville but provides no medical diagnosis.

Who was Patricia Shaffer’s husband?

Her husband was Theodore “Ted” Shaffer. He was a Rotary District Governor, and Patricia became involved with Rotary after initially accompanying him to Rotary events.

What did Patricia Shaffer do for a living?

Patricia was certified and worked as a real estate broker for many years. Her later life was also strongly associated with volunteer and charitable work through Rotary.

What was Patricia Shaffer known for in Rotary?

Shaffer held several positions within her Rotary district and served as a district polio chairperson. She also received Rotary International’s Citation for Meritorious Service Award and worked on projects supporting medical equipment distribution.

Did Patricia Shaffer work on polio eradication?

Yes. Polio eradication was one of her major Rotary interests. She traveled to India twice for National Immunization Days and helped raise awareness and funds for the international eradication effort.

Did Patricia Shaffer have children?

The published obituary does not identify biological children. It lists her sister, nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren among her surviving family.

Where was Patricia Shaffer’s funeral held?

A funeral Mass was held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Export, Pennsylvania, on December 9, 2023. Interment was private at Greenwood Memorial Park.

Where can memorial donations be made?

The obituary requested memorial contributions to The Rotary Foundation for the eradication of Polio. The listed contribution information directed donors to the Rotary Foundation.

Wrap-Up

Patricia A. Shaffer’s life was marked by professional work, family relationships and an unusually strong commitment to community service. She built a career as a real estate broker, but her later years became especially associated with Rotary and its humanitarian mission.

Her work on polio eradication took her beyond western Pennsylvania, including two trips to India for National Immunization Days. She also created a Rotary project to collect and recycle used medical equipment for Brother’s Brother, demonstrating how her volunteer work focused on practical assistance.

Shaffer died at her Murrysville home on November 30, 2023, at age 77. Her obituary remembers her as a generous person who found friendship and purpose through service, while her community records show that Murrysville also recognized her as a longtime and valued member of its Rotary community.

Her family and friends continue to remember a woman whose legacy was closely tied to helping others. Through Rotary, charitable giving and personal relationships, Patricia Shaffer left behind a record of service that reached from her local community to international humanitarian causes.

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