Mary Elizabeth (O'Reilly) Schaffer

Mary Elizabeth Schaffer entered eternal life on 8 December 2022, dying peacefully at the home at the age of 73. Born to Peter J.F. and Mary L. (Keane) O’Reilly in Arlington, MA, she was raised as the second oldest child of three boys and two girls. Mary graduated from Madonna High School in Wichita in 1967, married William T. McKnight later that year and bore a son the following year. With the untimely death of her husband, father-in-law, and uncle-in-law in a tragic accident in 1970, Mary became a widow at the early age of 20 with a son to raise. After moving in with her recently widowed mother-in-law, Mary found the love of her life in a young man, Gary Francis Schaffer, who had completed his time of service in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, and they were married on 5 June 1971. Mary bore seven children with Gary: one daughter and six sons. The Catholic faith, love and prayer were the bedrock for their strong marriage. They were active stewards in the various parishes where they lived throughout the country; their involvement in the Church’s Marriage Encounter, Cursillo, and the Knights of Columbus formed numerous enriching friendships with fellow parishioners. Mary is preceded in death by her late husband, parents; sister, Suzanne; parents-in-law, William L. McKnight; Francis and Juanita Schaffer; Clifford and Patricia Chestnut; sister-in-law, Maria McKnight; and brother-in-law, John E. Schaffer. She is survived by her second husband; 8 children, Most Reverend W. Shawn McKnight, Cynthia Bergkamp (Gerard), Aaron (Adeline), Jeremy (Jennifer), Andrew, James, MSgt John Joseph, USMC (Carolyn), and Gary Junior (Caitlin); 21grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren with 2 on the way. She is also survived by her brothers, Dr. Peter F. O’Reilly (Barbara), Dr. Michael J. O’Reilly (Jere), and LTG Patrick J. O’Reilly, USA (Judy); Uncles- and Aunts-in-law, Bill & Lois Theis; Mike and Wanda Flynn; brothers-in-law, Steve Schaffer (Leah) and Michael McKnight (Stacia); sisters-in-law, Susan Schulte, Jolene Smith (Dale), Mona Laudick (Dennis), and Sally Finley (David); and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Funeral services officiated by Bishop McKnight will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Wichita, with visitation on Thursday Dec. 15 at 6:30 pm and Vigil/Rosary service at 7 pm; Funeral Mass on Friday, Dec. 16th at 10 am with burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery. The family has established a memorial with St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 861 N. Socora, Wichita, KS 67212, in honor of Mary. Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.