Deborah Masten Schoemer was so much to so many – beloved wife, most incredible mother, adoring Nana, devoted sister, compassionate nurse, loyal friend. She spent her life caring for her family and community prior to her sudden and courageous battle with cancer.
Deborah had a quiet wisdom and elegance that was respected and trusted by all around her. Her astute perceptions on life, especially in the areas of parenting, relationships, and the medical field, were highly valued by family and friends who frequently sought her counsel and guidance. With respect to raising children, one of her most iconic lines was “don’t start anything you don’t want to continue” – and, as always, she was right! Deborah had a way of uncomplicating situations that seemed complex; always calm, she could fix anything with wise words or even just a look… or really, “The Look”. Her kindness, grace, and quick wit enchanted all those fortunate enough to know her, and if they were lucky enough to be driving with her, her ability to score all the green traffic lights and the perfect parking spot was uncanny!
Her husband, Bruce, was immediately captivated and knew she was the love of his life when they met on their first day at Penn State University. As they each pursued their studies, they would share dinners of egg rolls and enjoy grilled stickies and ice cream from the Penn State Creamery. Bruce proposed often, but it wasn’t until senior year that the ever-wise Deborah accepted. After graduating from Penn State, Deborah worked for a year on night shift in the ICU at the Hershey Medical Center, driving there from her home in Lancaster, PA, in her brand new, royal blue, stick shift Volkswagen Beetle.
Bruce and Deborah married in Bird-in-Hand, PA, then relocated to Alexandria, VA, where they began their family and their careers: she worked at the Children’s National Medical Center as a pediatric nurse for sixteen years. She later went on to work as the registered nurse at George Washington Middle School for twenty-one years, during which she earned her MS in School Nursing from Cambridge University in Boston, MA. Bruce and Deborah created a beautiful home together where their two daughters could thrive; full of laughter, opportunity, love and joy. Their romance of over fifty years based on friendship, respect, mutual admiration, and enduring love is an inspiration to their girls.
Throughout her tenure at George Washington, Deborah always went above and beyond to ensure her students’ needs were met by providing clothing, glasses, diabetic supplies, and hygiene items so that students could focus on their academics as opposed to their basic needs.
Deborah remained an active volunteer in education even as her grandchildren entered school. She would read to their classes, help with school events, and even fabricated an entire stage curtain for the Maunawili Elementary cafetorium.
Deborah was generous in both spirit and time. From library helper to secretary of the Silverbrook Elementary PTA to trustee of the Hopkins House, she instilled the importance of volunteering and giving back to her daughters and grandchildren. Throughout the years, Deborah took part in many rainy Girl Scout campouts and chaperoned numerous school field trips and overnight band competitions as the designated nurse.
Deborah also volunteered with the American Red Cross; conducted hearing and vision testing for Alexandria City Public Schools; and vaccinated the Northern Virginia community during the COVID-19 pandemic as a member of the Virginia Medical Reserve.
Beyond her gift of helping others, her chocolate mint brownies were legendary! Just ask her nephews, who consumed them with incredible swiftness each Christmas. Deborah always made holidays and birthdays special for her loved ones. She enjoyed decorating for festive occasions and had a knack for selecting the perfect gift for each recipient, then wrapped it beautifully, courtesy of her dedicated wrapping station, and always included a most pun-derful card. (She was thoroughly entertained by clever wordplay: though a good pun is its own reword, they certainly have groan on the rest of the family!) Only Deborah – “Nana” – would go through the effort of freezing money in a giant ice block so that she could give her grandchildren the gift of “cold, hard cash”!
As rare as her two different-colored eyes or her left-handedness, Deborah cherished the unique relationships she had with each of her grandchildren. Her four grandsons and granddaughter loved to call her just to chat and be heard, and she loved to hear their perspectives as they talked about their days. She was their biggest cheerleader and supporter of their academic and athletic achievements, and showed up for them at every game, meet, match, recital, and school function. They each cherished when she would read to them before bed and when they would snuggle together on the couch, decorate cookies, play duets on the piano, and make the crafts that she always was armed with. Much like Mary Poppins, her favorite movie, Nana was “practically perfect in every way” to her grandchildren. Her kindness, patience, and unconditional love, along with her magical ability to “turn a frown upside down” will be treasured forever.
Adventure and travel excited Deborah ever since her first trip to Spain while in high school. Born in Framingham, MA, then raised in Lancaster, PA, Deborah became a worldly traveler in her adult life. She climbed glaciers, snorkeled oceans, hiked trails, and explored cultures around the globe. Along with their husbands, her high school best friends and cheerleading teammates (Conestoga Valley High School Class of ’73) spent several decades adventuring the world together, touring from the United States to Greece, Italy to Great Britain, and her most favorite trip of all, their safari in Kenya. These ladies have recited the cheers from their championship cheer squad in countless countries together! Following each trip, Deborah proved her Quill and Scroll membership and journalism prowess by documenting the adventure with a memory book for the group so they could continue to relive their escapades for years to come.
Known to cradle a Kindle with a good book or crossword puzzle, Deborah also loved to sit on the beach, then make her way down to the water’s edge where she slowly waded into the surf, then rode the waves back onto the sand. Whether at Dewey Beach, DE, or Kailua Beach, HI, she delighted in playing with her grandchildren in the water! Her love for the ocean began in her youth when she would visit her cousin in Strathmere, NJ. Once she had children of her own, she began an annual family beach week tradition in Dewey with her brother’s and sister’s families. Memories continue to be recounted and recreated each year with the next generation at Bruce and Deborah’s Rehoboth Beach house, to include Grotto’s Pizza, fishing expeditions, crabbing and clamming quests, golf outings, bike rides, Jungle Jim’s, and Funland!
Deborah loved a good meal with a good friend, though the food itself was never the important component. She was known to sit and chat at restaurants with her friends for hours at a time, as she truly enjoyed the companionship and comradery of her good friends: friends so close they helped raise each other’s children as well as friends she worked with over the years. She also enjoyed yoga, swimming, an iced tea or nice glass of merlot, going to concerts, shopping at craft fairs and watching Jeopardy! Deborah was always willing to play any game, but note that when the Scrabble board came out, she would dominate (much to the chagrin of her son-in-law!)
Deborah and Bruce together were also expert entertainers and created warm gathering spaces for family and friends to be together. Between summer days spent in the backyard pool, evening conversations on the deck, holiday dinners, parties with her bunco babes, neighborhood Christmas celebrations, and weeks with extended family at the shore, Deborah welcomed all to share and enjoy life with her!
Deborah was extraordinary, a beautiful person in every way. Her family cannot begin to fathom the impact of her absence in their lives as she joins her parents, Ralph and Joan Masten, and her spirit sister, Kathy Jo Masten, in heaven. She is forever loved by her adoring husband, Bruce Schoemer of Lorton, VA; her daughters Laura (Brian) Saal of Fairfax, VA, and Allison (Kevin) Schaeffer of Kailua, HI; grandchildren Michael Saal, Jonathan Schaeffer, Logan Saal, Caroline Schaeffer, and Lucas Saal; sister Ann (Bart) Woomert of Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada; brother Steven Masten (Kim Sherr) of Lancaster, PA; cousins Jay (Laurie) Edinger, Judith (John) McLean, and Douglas (Thelma) Peterson; and many cherished sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and friends.
A memorial service will be held Monday, July 22nd at 1:00 PM at Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, 8508 Hooes Road, Springfield, VA 22153. In remembrance of Deborah’s life, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that any charitable donations be made in Deborah’s name to Sydenstricker United Methodist Church Missions.