Obituary - Carla Anne Schaaf

Carla Anne Schaaf, peacefully passed away at home on January 25, 2024. She was born on April 7, 1951, to Charles Edward and Hazel King Schaaf in Richmond, Virginia. She is survived by her loving cats, Emma, Raoul and Remi; and close family and friends. Carla’s love of companion animals led her to a career as a Veterinary Technician. After working at Three Chopt Animal Clinic for 15 years, she started her own pet sitting business, Carla’s Critter Care. She cared for other people’s pets in their homes as if they were her own. Carla was also an accomplished woodworker, artist and writer. In 1969, she won numerous awards along with a best in show award at the 4th Henrico County Schools Arts Festival for a silk screen print. The first girl to take a woodworking class in Henrico County, she also won an honorable mention on a pair of salt and pepper shakers she turned on the lathe at Douglas Freeman High School. In 2003, she published, “In the Company of CATS,” which she wrote and illustrated. In 2009, she collaborated with her longtime friend, Virginia Banister, to illustrate “The Story of a Star.” Carla was passionate about her family history. Her genealogy quest started when she was a child with a copy of the family tree brought back from Germany and a letter written in 1846. She had traced both sides of her family back hundreds of years. This led to her genealogy interests to include her family’s Civil War history. Carla was a member of The United Daughters of the Confederacy, and registrar of Centennial Maury Chapter #2296. She was a true Southern Lady. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 31, in the Narthex of Epiphany Lutheran Church. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, February 1, at Epiphany Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in Greenwood Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The United Daughters of the Confederacy, 328 N. Boulevard, Richmond, Va. 23220, the Richmond SPCA, 25l9 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Va. 23220 or the Epiphany Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 1400 Horsepen Road, Richmond, Va. 23226.