Anne Vanella Scheffer

November 5, 1950 - November 2, 2025

 Anne Vanella Scheffer was the strongest woman.  Her strength was steady and brave.  She faced every obstacle life put in her path with fierce determination and a heart that refused to quit.  When others might have taken the easy road and given up, she proved time and time again that “Anne Rocks” and beat the odds.  She showed everyone that strength isn’t about never falling; it’s about getting up with grace, putting on your lipstick and moving forward no matter how heavy the world feels.  She lived with purpose, passion and a feistiness that can never be forgotten.  She was a fashionista with an eye for flair, especially if it had leopard print. That print wasn’t just a style choice- it was her spirit. Bold. Confident. Unapologetically her.

Anne, just shy of her 75th birthday, died on November 2, 2025 surrounded in her final days by her loving family and the most caring and compassionate staff at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune NJ.  She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, W. Patrick Scheffer with whom she shared 42 beautiful years. Her parents Joseph Vanella and Mary Bordenga Vanella; her brother, Andrew Vanella; and her sister Mary Santoro.

Anne was born in Trenton NJ.  She was a graduate of Trenton High.  In her early years she was a very talented beautician turned dedicated mother and homemaker.  When she rejoined the workforce, she was determined to further her education and began to climb the “corporate ladder” being an integral part in creating a special Customer Service unit called the Tiger Team and ending her 25 year career at NJMV as the Legislative Liaison to the Governor in 2007. 

She is survived by her 2 loving daughters and sons in law, Stacy and Vincent Estelle and Victoria and Timothy Fitzpatrick. Her stepdaughter and husband, Melanie and Jason Demarco and stepson and wife, Patrick and Michelle Scheffer.  She was a beloved Nonna to her grandchildren Erikk, Alisha, Vincent, Austin, Karissa, Nicholas, Cooper, Julia, Bryce, Diana, Eva, Gabriela, Caelyn, Cassidy and Colton and great grandchildren Madilyn, Viktor and Brayden.

She is also survived by her brother Joseph Vanella, her sister Eileen Rogers, sister and brother in law, Lucy and Rick Phillips; many nieces, nephews and dear friends that are family, especially her sisters by heart, Carol Geraci and Fran Ancone.  Anne was also beloved dog mom to Andy, Bailey and Chelsea. 

The family will be having a private celebration of her life.

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