Vel Shearer, 87, died April 21, 2025, from complications following knee replacement surgery. A lover of words and a leader of women and men, she lived a life defined by wisdom and grace.
The sixth of seven children born to Ozias and Naomi (Schmidt) Gingrich, Velorous Orpah was born Dec. 23, 1937, in Elmira, Ont. After graduating from Ontario’s grade 13, she attended teachers college, taught and then completed her degree at Goshen College.
During a Voluntary Service term resourcing Mennonite youth groups across the church, she fell in love with the team leader, John Shearer, despite initial misgivings. They married Dec. 21, 1963, in Ontario.
While mothering three sons, she edited the Women’s Missionary and Service Commission’s monthly magazine Voice and then earned a master’s degree in counseling, after which she worked at a community college near their home in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Principaling New Covenant Christian School in Lebanon, Pa., from 1991 to 1997 led to directing student services at Lebanon Community College until retirement in 2003.
She is survived by her much-loved husband of more than 61 years, John Irvin Shearer; sons Tobin Miller Shearer (Cheryl Miller Shearer), Jay Shearer (Jane Kennison) and Jud Shearer (Sue Ann Foster); five grandsons; a great-granddaughter; and brothers Virgil (Della) and Delmar (Marguerite) Gingrich.
She was predeceased by her parents and her siblings, Newton (Mary) Gingrich, Gordon (Betty) Gingrich, Vernon (Eileen) Gingrich and Vietta (Tom) Oshiro.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. May 31 at Akron Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania.
The family requests donations to the United Zion Retirement Community Benevolent Care Fund.
