SCHAEFFLER, Graciela E.

Today's News-Herald, Lake Havasu City, AZ Published on November 3, 2015 - Graciela E. “Mips” Schaeffler, 87, passed away Oct. 8, 2015 at Prestige Assisted Living in Lake Havasu City. Gracie was born April 9, 1928 in Iquitos, Peru, S.A. to William and Olga Schaeffler where her father was serving as a missionary. In September 1946, the family moved to New Orleans for two weeks, New York for six months and then another move to Chicago. Gracie graduated from Broadview Academy in La Grange, Ill. in 1947. After four years in Chicago, the family moved to Los Angeles, Calif., where her father pastored the German/American SDA Church. She received a bachelor of science degree with a major in nursing in June 1953 from Loma Linda University. Gracie was fluent in Spanish, German and English. She continued with graduate studies along with working in the medical field and became a very successful businesswoman dedicated to helping others through her entire life. She spent endless hours working with her church. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her brother, Bill (Bobbie) Schaeffler; nephews and Meribel Sanchez, who became like an adopted daughter when caring for her at White Memorial Hospital. Meribel was in the Mexico City earthquake in 1995 where she was buried by rubble for about a week and survived despite having to have her legs amputated. Gracie continued to be like a mother to Maribel and continued to be a big part of her life until her passing. A celebration of Gracie’s life is 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Lake Havasu City Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3130 Chemehuevi Blvd.