Obituaries

Our beloved mother, Eleanor Mae Hess (Shaffer), 90, was ushered into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, surrounded by her loving family at the Hess Farm, Danville, PA.

Eleanor was born July 6, 1933, to the late Allen and Mildred (Ploch) Shaffer. She spent most of her childhood in the Cherokee Ordinance section of Riverside, PA. Eleanor often talked of her many adventures along the Susquehanna River with her brother Charles, such as the unsuccessful attempt to use an old mattress as a raft. This was the time she learned to swim. She attended school in Danville and later worked in a local factory for a short time.

At the age of 17, Eleanor met the love of her life, Robert L. Hess, whom she referred to as “Hon”, during the now infamous popcorn throwing encounter at the Capitol Theatre in Bloomsburg. A few months later they married on November 11, 1950, and celebrated 71 years of marriage together before his passing on September 18, 2022. His passing left a huge void in her life as they were an inseparable couple. Together they farmed, raised five children, started a successful business, traveled throughout the US in their RV and “snowbirded” in Florida. They especially enjoyed their frequent fishing vacations to the 1000 Islands, Canada and hunting trips to Casper, Wyoming at the Tucker Ranch where she shot antelope.

In her late 30’s, Eleanor and Bob were saved at a Bill Glass Crusade at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds. Her relationship with the Lord was very important to her. She was a member of Rush Baptist Church, Danville. Eleanor had a ministry of placing Gospel tracts in local restaurants, daily devotions and praying for all her family, friends, and neighbors in Rush Township.

Life on the farm for the past 63 years was an adventure as well. She could shoot snakes off the pond, help birth baby pigs in the middle of the night, and attempt to chase squirrels off the bird feeder with her “22” until her vision declined.

Eleanor will be remembered for her delicious chocolate chip cookies, homemade bread, zucchini bread, and peanut butter pie, as she was a great cook and baker. An impeccable dresser, anyone visiting her home was greeted with her beautiful smile and welcoming “Come in, Come in”. She hosted large family gatherings throughout the year: Easter Egg Hunts for the grandchildren, birthday celebrations, picnics, corn roasts, Thanksgiving and ice-skating on the pond in the winter. Eleanor enjoyed attending the local Red Hat meetings when her health permitted. One of her greatest enjoyments was having the “Coffee Club” around her kitchen table with her family.

“Mom, Grandma, Grammy, Sister, Aunt Sis, Eleanor” was deeply loved and appreciated by her large extended family and friends. She will be greatly missed.

She is survived by three sons and one daughter: Robert C. (Mary Carol) Hess, Randall Hess, Angela (Caleb) Clark and Richard (Shirley) Hess. Also surviving are nine grandchildren: Jamin (NeCole) Hess, Ann Johnson, Kerry Boyles, Pami Clark, Rhonda (Larry) Geary, Jennifer (Joel) Spangler, Rebecca (Matthew) Querry, Patrick (Diane) Hess, and Joshua Hess; eighteen great-grandchildren and two great-great granddaughters. She is also survived by her nephew, Harry (Julie) Henry and niece Christine (Robert) Stoltzfus whom she helped to raise; eighteen grandchildren; DezRae and Luke Gibbs; Clarissa and Connor Mended, Zachary and Charlotte Hess, Shane, Hannah, Xavier and Elizabeth Hess, Taylor and Trinity Johnson, Dyllan Geary, Macy and Micah Clark, Elijah and Caleb Spangler, Brandon Hess, James Mills and Robert Cunduff and Matthew and Laura Querry. Eleanor is also survived by two great-great granddaughters; Ariana and Leah Hess as well as one brother Charles Shaffer and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one son; Ronald Hess and one grandson Jeremy Clark; two brothers; Bobby and Paul Shaffer and two sisters; Lorraine Henry and Florence Hess.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Eleanor’s Life on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 3:00 PM at Rush Baptist Church, 410 Rushtown Road, Danville, PA with Pastor Robert Horne officiating. Friends will be received from 1:00-2:45pm.

The family will provide flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.