Obituary of Benjamin W. Scheffer

Benjamin W. Scheffer, age 22, of Lebanon Twp., NJ died Saturday, March 16, 2013 at Hunterdon Medical Center in Raritan Twp., NJ. Ben was born November 7, 1990 in Raritan Twp., NJ. Ben grew up in Hopewell, N.J. before moving to Franklin Twp. NJ (Hunterdon County) where he graduated North Hunterdon High School in 2009 and then attended Ithaca College before recently transferring to Boston University where he studied film. Ben's sharp wit and incredible sense of humor brought smiles, laughter and love in abundance to all of his friends and family. He had enormous insight for so young a person and he often turned that wisdom into writing and film that were exceptional for their uniqueness, for being so Ben. He challenged the conventional and questioned what so many of us merely accept. And, in the process, he made us think. In one of their many written exchanges, Benjamin once signed off to his mother with this: "With all the love in the world and some from outer space (I find the love out there is a little more crisp. I would have gotten you more but it's so damn hard to collect. You understand)." That was our Benjamin and he will be so sorely missed by all who knew and loved him during his tragically short life. Ben is survived by his mother, Nancy L. Parello of Bradley Beach, NJ, his father and step-mother, Wayde and Aimee Scheffer of Lebanon Twp., NJ and his brother, Alex Scheffer of Jersey City, NJ and his sisters Alexandra Bradley of New York City and Jocelyn Bradley, of Charleston, S.C. Additional survivors include his paternal grandmother, Elsie Coughlin Scheffer, his aunts; Leslie Parello and Beth MacArthur, his uncles; Lyle and Daniel Scheffer, Peter Parello, Jeffery Buccellato & his wife, Maria and John MacArthur and many cousins, other relatives and friends. He was pre-deceased by his maternal grandparents; Stephen M. & Nancy A. Parello, his paternal grandfather, Herbert H. "Bus" Scheffer and his Uncle, Jody Buccellato. Ben's Life Celebration includes visitation on Thursday, March 21st from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home, 1761 Route 31, Clinton, NJ. There will be a funeral mass on Friday, March 22nd at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine Of Siena Catholic Church's Parish Center, 142 Perryville Road, Hampton, NJ 08827. Family & friends are invited to meet directly at Church's Parish Center on Friday morning. The interment/entombment will be at a later date. For memorial donations please consider making a donation to the charity of choice.