After a three year battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, Katy Schafer peacefully passed away at her home on December 14, 2014 at the age of 54. Katy grew up in Aberdeen, Washington and was very proud of her Grays Harbor pioneer heritage. A graduate of Weatherwax High School, she studied at United World College of the Atlantic at St. Donat's Castle in Wales and earned a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of San Diego in 1982. After working as an accountant and paralegal in San Diego, Katy attended Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C. from which she graduated with high honors, earning both a J.D. in 1998 and a Masters in Taxation ten years later. She worked in private practice in the Washington-Baltimore area and also spent several years focused on raising her three children. She was a devoted wife and mother and was active in her children's schools and various civic organizations. She also was a breast cancer survivor and a brain tumor advocate. Besides spending time with her family, she enjoyed singing and playing piano, gardening, foreign travel, and films. One of her great joys after she became ill was spending time on the Chesapeake Bay.

She is survived by her husband, Steven S. Paskal, of Severna Park, Maryland, and her three children: Stefanie Sofia Paskal, Nicholas Francis Schafer Paskal, and Alexander Christopher Paskal, all of Severna Park, Maryland. She is also survived by her mother, Jane McGannon Schafer of Seattle, Washington; two sisters: M. Suzanne Schafer, of Seattle, Washington, and Patricia Schafer Paulsen of Carlsbad, California; three brothers: F. William Schafer, Jr. of Seattle, Washington, John D. Schafer of Moses Lake, Washington, and G. Michael Schafer of Bow, Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Francis W. Schafer, formerly of Aberdeen and Olympia, Washington.

The Paskal family expresses their sincere gratitude to Dr. Steven Toms, Dr. Scott Turner, Angela Whitmire, Lynn Belles and Penny Kaiser of Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Peter Graze, Dr. Sarah Jamieson and Laura Kucine of Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, Maryland, for their compassionate care.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to: Musella Foundation, 1100 Peninsula Blvd, Hewlett, NY 11557. If you are making a donation in honor of a brain tumor survivor, or in memory of someone who suffered from a brain tumor, enclose a note with the name of the person, and the name and address of where you would like the foundation to send an acknowledgement.

A private life celebration will be scheduled at a later date.