Cinda Shafer

Cinda Lou (nee Brownewell) Shafer, 79, was welcomed into the arms of her Savior on June 23, 2026. Cinda was born on May 31, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to parents Edgar and Virginia (nee Carter) Brownewell. Her early life was spent in Indianapolis with her sisters, Linda Kay and Sue Ellen. She graduated from Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis and continued her education at Ball State University, where she graduated with a B.S. in Elementary Education and a minor in English.

While at Ball State University, she met her soulmate, Timothy Shafer. Tim and Cinda were married on June 1, 1968, in Indianapolis, Indiana. They were married for 58 wonderful years, in which they built a family and a life that brought them so much joy. In each of those years, they adored one another wholeheartedly. Although they spent periods of time apart during Tim’s Air Force career, they were reminded of their blessings with each reunion that followed. Cinda frequently recounted how the time apart taught her about the peace that accompanies prayer. She preached that the reunions were answered prayers, but the waiting taught her how to pray. Together, they built a home marked by love, hospitality, laughter, and unwavering faith, no matter where the Air Force sent them.

Cinda’s love for her daughters was infinite and all-encompassing. Lori and Jennifer were her entire world. The pride of being a mother shone through her in every possible way. If you knew Cinda, you knew Lori and Jenny. “Have you met my girls?” she would say, beaming with adoration every time she had the opportunity to introduce others to her daughters. She raised them to be kind, thoughtful, God-fearing women who understand the value and privilege of having a family as tight-knit as the family that she created. Her girls have always, and will continue to, take such incredible pride in being Cinda’s daughters.

Along with the mantle of “Mama,” Cinda was also “Nana” to her five grandchildren; Masa, Lex, Gracie Sue, Doodle (Addie), and Micah Shay were spoiled rotten by their Nana. Nana and Papa’s house was the revered location for sleepovers, afternoon hangouts, and countless family dinners. The grandkids were enthralled by their Nana. She poured into them her intentionality to prioritize family and the Lord over all else. She also shaped their habits in less conventional ways. After years and years of sleepovers and mornings on the balcony at the beach, the kids have spent many early mornings in her presence, leading them to the invention of a well-used family term. Other people may wake up with bed-head, but Cinda’s grandkids will forever wake up with “Nana hair.”

One of the greatest gifts she gave them was the tradition of gathering every year at Perdido Key Beach. Without fail, she made sure everyone came together. Those weeks became sacred family time—watching sunrises with steaming cups of coffee, marveling at sunsets over the Gulf, collecting seashells, playing endless games, working puzzles, reading good books, eating nightly bowls of Blue Bell ice cream, and enjoying one another while feeling especially close to the Lord. Her family’s favorite memories take place under a cabana on the beach with a tray of beach nachos. She understood that time together was one of God's sweetest gifts.

Cinda was an elementary school and special education teacher for over thirty years. Her career spanned many years, schools, and grade levels, but Cinda’s love for teaching remained consistent. By her (second) retirement, she had taught in Indiana, Texas, Delaware, and Illinois. Her first retirement came after teaching the fourth grade at Pontiac William Holiday Elementary School. Less than six months later, Cinda was called to teach at First Baptist Academy. After two years, she retired for a second time, but in true Cinda fashion, she continued to assist her daughters in homeschooling their kids. Her devotion to learning led her to a fervent passion for teaching. It mattered so deeply to her to be able to provide the opportunity and space for anyone and everyone to learn in their own way, at their own speed. Her teaching style was firm - a no-nonsense approach that did not allow for slacking off or giving less than your all, but it was built on her belief that it is essential to equip young people with the necessary tools for success early in life. She was compassionate enough to comfort and courageous enough to correct. To be taught by Cinda was to be seen, loved, and prayed for.

While frequently moving, Cinda took pride in continually establishing a home for her family in each new location that being a military wife called her to. Her ability to create a space that was welcoming to all and grounding to her family was remarkable. She kept a home with an open-door policy, asserting that anyone who needed a home, long or short term, was always welcome in her house - a fact that she saw through time and time again. Her love for hosting coincided with a habitual -perhaps clinical-desire to clean and reorganize her home. The walls of Meadowlark Drive saw every possible arrangement of furniture and were subject to frequent, thorough scrubbings. According to Cinda, early Saturday mornings were for talking to God, but late Saturday mornings were for deep cleaning the house. Her family can attest to this.

Cinda’s ability to cook was shared with her community through her catering company, Wooden Spoon Catering, which she operated with the help of her daughters during the ‘80s. She also viewed cooking as a ministry - a way to bring people together, let people know she was thinking of them, and communicate how much she loved them. While her culinary business ventures required a steady, reliable menu, her home cooking was approached with a wholly different mindset. Her family lovingly coined the term “Shafer surprise” (Definition: an often shocking, occasionally inedible, and always adventurous meal that usually utilized leftovers or ingredients that needed to be used up. In addition to the startling nature of the “ingredient roundup” style of cooking, Shafer surprise absolutely never adhered to a recipe). Shafer surprise was used to describe her frequent attempts at what she would call culinary genius and her family would call questionable decision making. Her resourcefulness was always appreciated, even when her family made her promise to never make certain meals again. Though Shafer surprises became few and far between, Cinda’s sourdough biscuits were a staple of the family. Her belief in coming together and breaking bread with one another was always a privilege when her sourdough biscuits were involved.

Cinda was a woman of many hobbies. Her never-ending repertoire of abilities expanded frequently due to her extensive thirst for knowledge. She was an accomplished sewist, quilter, board game enthusiast (though it had to be the right game - i.e. a game she would win), reader, and artist. She was a seasoned collector of Lladros and M&M related memorabilia, respectively. Despite being technologically challenged, she had a GIF for every occasion - often multiple - and would text them to her family with great enthusiasm. She loved gathering for Bible studies and sharing her morning Bible study revelations. Her joy, stubbornness, and love was encapsulating.

Her greatest legacy, however, was never her spotless floors, delicious baking, memorable traditions, or remarkable hospitality. It was her faith. In everything she did, Cinda loved the Lord. Her life was a ministry for Him in every single way. Though she often downplayed her ability to speak Scripture over others, she frequently sent mile-long texts to those who weighed on her heart with prayers that spoke to the hearts of each message recipient. Praying fervently and with unerring accuracy was a gift that she was humble about, but her family continues to be extremely blessed by and thankful for. She lovingly ended conversations with a firm hug and a genuine “Psalms 91 about you,” - which her family wants you to know - she was not just saying. She always followed through with that prayer for you.

She lived convinced that Jesus Christ was worthy of her whole life. She prayed boldly. She loved generously. She served joyfully. She discipled intentionally. She gave sacrificially. She trusted completely. Because of her faithful witness, generations have been pointed toward Christ. While those who loved her grieve deeply, they do not grieve without hope. They rejoice knowing that the woman who spent her life preparing others to meet Jesus is now face to face with the Savior she loved so dearly.

Her family invites all who knew her to honor her memory by doing what she did so well: love people deeply, open your table generously, pray fervently, study God's Word passionately, and never miss an opportunity to tell someone about Jesus. We pray Psalms 91 about you.

She is survived by her husband, Timothy Shafer; daughters, Lori Tippett and Jennifer Verning; sons-in-love Richard Tippett and Nathan Verning; grandchildren, Madison, Lexi, Gracie, Addie, and Micah; sister, Linda Kay Schanz (George); brothers-in-law, Richard Shafer (Becky) and Bill Green; many nieces and nephews, bonus family members, and students. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Edgar and Virginia Brownewell; her sister, Sue Ellen Green; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dwight and Martha Shafer.

Visitation will be on Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 2-4 p.m., with a Celebration of Life service to begin at 4 p.m. All services will be held at Revive Church, 1105 Beltline Road, Collinsville, Illinois, 62234. A private burial will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at a later date.

To honor Cinda Shafer’s beautiful legacy of learning and studying God’s Word, memorial gifts may be directed to Community Bible Study (CBS) via following the secured link https://pushpay.com/g/communitybiblestudyP0703
or by check made payable to Community Bible Study with "in memory of Cinda Shafer” in the memo. Donations will be accepted at the services on Thursday. Your generosity will help advance the Kingdom of God and spread the Light of Jesus. She would love nothing more. Sign the online guestbook or message the family at www.wfh-ofallon.com. Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill., is serving the Shafer family. 

Obit Provided By:
Wolfersberger Funeral Home