Deborah Kay Shaffer graced our lives for 68 years. Born on October 12, 1955, in Johnstown, PA, Debbie was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, step-parent and friend.

 She is preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Good Saloka, and her father, Francis William Saloka Sr., as well as her sister, Mary Lou Saloka.

 Debbie leaves behind her cherished sisters and brothers: Marlene, with whom she shared a home; Sharon and her husband George Decker; Susan and her husband Jim Firm; Greg Saloka and his wife Judy; Frank Saloka and his wife Virginia; and Tim Saloka and his wife Anne. Each of them carries a piece of her spirit, along with nieces and nephews who treasured their Aunt Debbie: Julia, Joe, David, Rosemary, Anna, Dave, George, Megan, Sarah, Trey, Stephen, Joshua, Joy, Christina, Brett, Greg, Stephanie, Renee, Brian, Mike, Elizabeth, Amber, Adam, Ryan, Kelsey, Caitlin, Mark, Allison, Chris, Meaghan, and Ryan. Her step-children, LeAnn and Jeff, and step-grandchildren, Lauren, Jonathan, and Catherine, brought her joy. She was a shining light in the lives of her great nieces and nephews who absolutely adored her. 

 As a retired school teacher with over 30 years of dedicated service in Pennsylvania and Virginia, Debbie touched the lives of countless students, inspiring them to learn and grow. Her passion for education extended into retirement as she volunteered her time and energy to support staff and students at Moton Early Childhood Center in Hampton.

 Those who knew Debbie can attest to her boundless love of animals (cherished pets —Katie, Poncho, Cecil, Jesse, and Nugget) which made her the perfect pet sitter.

 Her happy beach life was a dream come true, as she moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia to bask in the beauty of the ocean and the joy it brought her.  Whether it was her daily beach walks, traveling to new places, bowling, swimming, or dancing at concerts, she embraced life with an infectious enthusiasm.

 We would like to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the staff at both hospitals for their dedicated care, and to our friends who stood by us during this difficult time. Your support has meant the world to us. While our hearts are broken by this heavy loss, we find solace knowing that she is healed and cradled in the hands of God. She will forever remain in our hearts and memories, a beacon of joy and love. Let us honor her legacy by continuing to spread kindness and love, just as she did.

 Her membership at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hampton was a testament to her faith. A memorial service will be held at Gloria Dei on October 19, 2024 at 2:00pm, with a beach party to follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to:

The Alzheimer’s Association, Amber Saloka’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s Page

Williamsburg WhooPies for Alzheimer’s

https://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=17991&pg=personal&px=23691907

The American Heart Association

 https://www.heart.org/en/