Obituary of Joyce Elaine Shaffer Zeller

Joyce Elaine Shaffer Zeller, 78, of State College, died July 12, 2017, at Juniper Village, surrounded by her family. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Jacob R. Zeller, of State College. She is also survived by her children: Judy Manfull and her husband, Ben, of East Haddam, CT; Jon Zeller and his wife, Jessica, of Coatesville, PA; and Janice Ryan and her husband, J.D., of Simi Valley, CA. She was also blessed with seven grandchildren: Nathan, Isaac, Thomas, James, Julia, Liam, and Emmeline. Joyce was born on April 22, 1939, in Williamsport, PA, to the late Walter H. and Getha Waples Shaffer. She is also preceded in death by her brother, William W. Shaffer. She graduated from Williamsport High School in 1957 and received a B. S. in Elementary Education from the Pennsylvania State University in 1960. At Penn State, she was a member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and met her husband, Jake. After graduation, she taught second grade at Roosevelt Elementary School in Williamsport. During her youth, she was active in the High Street Methodist Church in Williamsport, where she and Jake married in 1962. After their marriage, they settled in Lancaster, PA, where Joyce taught fourth grade at Mountville Elementary School in Mountville, PA, before dedicating her life to raising her children. Her family will remember the joy she took in cooking, gardening, sewing, and decorating, and with sharing the results of her hobbies with friends and family. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 18, 2017, from 3 until 5 p.m., at Koch Funeral Home, 2401 South Atherton Street; State College. A funeral service will be held at the same location on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at 1 p.m. There will be a visitation preceding the funeral service, from 12 until 1 p.m. Interment will follow immediately after the service at Pine Hall Cemetery, 1750 West College Avenue, State College. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in honor of Joyce E. Zeller to St. Jude's Children's Research Center. Arrangements are under the care of Koch Funeral Home, State College. Online condolences and signing of the guest book may be entered at www.kochfuneralhome.com or visit us on Facebook.