Obituary of Alyce C Schaaf

Alyce Carole Schaaf passed away peacefully on March 29, 2020, in Bridgewater, New Jersey.

Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey, on Jan. 15, 1942, she was predeceased by her parents, Vernon Jacks and Alyce Mc Glynn, and her sisters Joan Rutter and Alverna Dolan. Alyce is survived by her beloved family: son Scott F. Roberts (Lisa) of Lebanon, NJ; daughter Alicia M. Israel (Rick) of Bethlehem, PA; son Mark D. Dickhut (Raquel Huhn) of Wildwood, NJ; son Curtis W. Dickhut (Nancy Wyss) of Effort, PA; daughter Kimberly A. Catalano (Laura) of Alexandria, VA; son Derek D. Dickhut (Angie) of Wildwood, NJ; and her adoring grandchildren: Lindsay Roberts (Colin Feeney, fiancé) of Flanders, NJ, Carter Roberts of New Brunswick, NJ, Caroline Roberts of Lebanon, NJ, April Israel (Tyler Shepherd, fiancé) of Arvada, CO, and Lauren Dickhut of Milton, DE.

Alyce was raised in Elizabeth, NJ, and graduated from Battin High School in 1959. A devout Roman Catholic, she married Francis R. Ganzala-Dickhut in 1960 and resided in Staten Island, NY, and Bridgewater, NJ, where they reared their six children. Known for her sense of style and flair for design, Alyce was a captivating storyteller who loved life, music and dancing, fine dining and playing bingo at the casino. In 1982, Alyce married Robert Schaaf and resided in Hackettstown, NJ, where she took up golf and won the club championship her first year. The couple moved in 1985 to Cape May, NJ, and opened the Bird’s Nest gift shop on Washington Street Mall. In 2000, Alyce retired to Mesquite, NV, where she lived for 18 years before returning to her native New Jersey in November 2018 to spend time with her family.

A devoted mother and grandmother, Alyce raised her children with an abundance of unconditional love and humor. A woman of boundless energy and larger-than-life personality, she touched her many friends and all she met with her generosity, love, thoughtfulness, beauty and youthful spirit.

Family will receive friends at a celebration of life and mass at St. Rose of Lima in Short Hills, NJ, sometime this summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Alyce’s name.