Linda M. Shaffer, 74, entered into eternal rest surrounded by her daughter and son-in law on August 2, 2025. Linda lived her faith through kindness, service, and compassion inside and outside of her career. She was a proud graduate of Notre Dame High School in St Louis, MO in 1968, followed by an Associate’s Degree in Nursing from Belleville Area College in 1974. Linda started her nursing career as a registered nurse at Memorial Hospital Belleville, spending 35 successful years in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit, culminating in a promotion to Supervisory Floor Nurse. After Memorial, Linda felt called to serve those in hospice and palliative care. She found great satisfaction in this vocation and remained a hospice nurse until her retirement.
This ethos of service extended into her personal life, focused on the care and fellowship of her family and friends. She became the primary caregiver of her mother and continued her nursing vocation in the care of her family and friends in retirement. Linda was universally known for her kindness and generosity, making every person in her life feel special. Her capacity for giving had no bounds, and she provided support, guidance, and healing to those around her. She was also highly determined with immense bravery, demonstrated by her unexpected journey with cancer. Her grace, fortitude, and humor through her tribulations is an inspiration to all of those who knew her.
Outside of her career, Linda was dedicated to her Catholic faith as a parishioner of St Clare of Assisi Catholic Church in O’Fallon IL. Her beautiful singing held a special place in many church choirs and family ceremonies throughout her life. She was also a devoted St Louis Cardinals fan, a hobby that started at Sportsman’s Park with her father and shared with family throughout her life. Opening Day was one of her favorite holidays and a beloved family tradition. She enjoyed travelling and had strong interests in music, theatre, history, and medical science. She was also a part of the O’Fallon TOPS group, where she found wonderful friends and encouragement through the friendships forged there.
She was preceded in death by her father, Alfred Kruep, and mother Anna Mae Kruep-Frisse. She is survived by her daughter, Sara Shaffer-Henry, son-in-law, Joshua Henry, and her siblings Veronica Johnson, Dorothy Durbin, Anna Sharp, Christine Sharp, Nannette Snyder, Alan Kruep, James Kruep, Carla Sue Schott, and Charles Kruep. She is also survived by many much-loved nieces, nephews, and brothers/sisters-in-law that brightened her life in many ways.
Visitation will take place on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at Wolfersberger Funeral, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon, IL from 4-8 pm. The Rosary will be prayed at 7:30 pm.
The online guest book and a photo tribute are available at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Clare Catholic Church in O’Fallon, IL at 10 am on Monday, August 11, 2025, with lunch to follow at the church. Burial will be held at St Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Highland, IL at 1pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Linda’s name to the Team Jack Foundation (www.teamjackfoundation.org), a nonprofit dedicated to providing funding to advance research in pediatric brain cancer.
