BARBARA ANN SHAFFER

Barbara Kurlancheek Shaffer, born April 12, 1939, died Saturday July 8 , 2023 at her home in Kingston under the loving care of her husband Charles and her daughter Susan. Barbara was artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial. Beginning at Wyoming Seminary and continuing with her studies at Pembroke College in Brown University, Rhode Island School of Design, and Misericordia University, Barbara attained a BA in Art History at Pembroke and an education certificate from Misericordia. She taught art at elementary schools in West Chester, NY, and Glenside, PA. Throughout their married life she and Charles frequently visited galleries and museums and also shared a love of jazz and reading. When her children Jonathan and Susan were fully engaged in school, Barbara initiated a 30-year long career as an independent bookstore owner. Beginning in the Showcase Shops, which featured all women retailers in Kingston, Barbara opened The Tudor Book Shop in 144 square feet of space. Her sister Lynn Gonchar joined her in 1979 and the book shop eventually grew to become The Tudor Book Shop and Cafes in Kingston and Clarks Summit. Together with her sister, Barbara brought in local artists and held author signings with both local and nationally published authors. What set the stores apart were their curated selection of gifts, custom imprinted stationery and invitations, and unique author events. For 30 years, The Tudor provided the local community a welcoming place to gather and celebrate a love of books. Barbara enjoyed knitting beautiful sweaters, scarves, and blankets for her family. She was a gifted ceramicist, and more recently she enjoyed weaving at the Jewish Community Center. She was a loving and devoted mother and spouse, and a doting grandmother.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 62 years Charles Shaffer Esq., her son Jonathan Shaffer Esq. and his wife Robin Shaffer Esq. of Northern Virginia and their son Daniel Shaffer of Washington D.C., her daughter Dr. Susan Shaffer and her wife Suzanne Yaramishyn, and their daughter Zeal Shaffer Yaramishyn of South Burlington, VT, her siblings to which she was a great big sister, Lynn Gonchar of Wilkes- Barre, PA, Paul Kurlancheek of Chiang Mai, Thailand, sister-in-law Mary Lou Spina of Tunkhannock, PA, and Ronne Kurlancheek and her husband Joel Zitofsky of Wilkes-Barre, PA.

The funeral will be held at Rosenberg Funeral Chapel, 332 S. River St, Wilkes-Barre, PA at 11:00 am on Thursday, July 13, 2023.

Shiva will take place Thursday 7-9 pm and Friday from 2 to 8 pm at the family home. Everyone is invited to the home for a luncheon following the service.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Jewish Community Center of Wyoming

Valley or the Osterhout Library.

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