Arlene Kay (Boresi) Shaeffer

Loving wife, mother and grandmother, Arlene resided in Cobb County since 1980, having been born and raised in St. Louis. She passed away March 8, 2014 after a 10 year battle with Alzheimer's. Born October 29, 1941 to Edith and Harry Boresi, she grew up in south St. Louis where she attended Cleveland high school and was a spelling bee champ. She excelled in school and had a passion for learning which enabled her to earn a fully paid scholarship to Washington University where she received a Bachelor's degree in Social Work, was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority and taught Sunday School at South Hampton Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. She was then sponsored by the American Red Cross to attend Saint Louis University where she earned her Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree. After graduating she worked for the American Red Cross in their Service to Military Families group during the Vietnam War. While working for the Red Cross she developed her lifelong dedication for giving to others, whether it be her time and talents as a school volunteer, Girl Scout Area cookie chair, to her sorority or as prodigious Red Cross giver of platelets! While in St. Louis attending graduate school, she met and then married John Fredrick Shaeffer in August of 1967. Her passion for learning and for the pursuit of goals was passed down to her children Laura who was the 1988 Wheeler High School Class Valedictorian, earned a scholarship to Agnes Scott College as a math major, studied and passed all of her actuarial exams to become a member of the Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA), and who is now a Managing Director of a major accounting firm. This same passion was also passed to her son David who in high school was an Eagle Scout and a Divisional Director of Georgia Key Clubs, earned a biology degree from The Georgia Institute of Technology, graduated from The Medical College of Georgia and then a five year general surgery residency at the University of Hawaii. He is now Chief of Staff at the Pagosa Springs Medical Center in Colorado. Arlene moved to Cobb County in 1980 when her husband took a job at The Georgia Tech Research Institute. In 1988 Arlene began working for the Cobb County Juvenile Court first as a probation officer and then as a Probation Officer Supervisor till her retirement. She remained an active volunteer throughout her life, whether in the local school library, Kennestone hospital or the Cobb County Center of Family Resources. Arlene was an avid gardener and bird watcher – wowing her family and friends with her ability to identify just about every plant and bird in her garden and neighborhood. In addition, she loved to travel – never shying away from a new experience or the London tube subway system. She is survived by her husband John, children Laura Gray (Gary) and David (Amber), grandsons Ethan, Adam, and Noah Gray, granddaughter Gianna Shaeffer, and brother Charles Boresi. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. in the sanctuary at First Presbyterian Church of Marietta on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 with Rev. Denise Beltzner officiating. Family will receive friends 10:00 to 11:00 am in the library at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can to be made to a very helpful local organization dedicated to helping Alzheimer's victims and their families: Aloha To Aging, Inc. 4608 Lower Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30068 or at www.alohatoaging.org . Mayes Ward-Dobbins Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta will be handling the arrangements. www.mayeswarddobbins.com 770-428-1511

Arlene Kay (Boresi) Shaeffer

October 29, 1941 - March 8, 2014