
A mom of two was among the passengers on the American Airlines jet that collided with a US Army helicopter on January 29, 2025, her friends and family have confirmed. The collision reportedly killed 67 people, including at least two teenagers.
Friends of the Shaffer family have launched a GoFundMe fundraiser on behalf of Nathan Shaffer as he mourns the loss of his wife, Wendy Jo Shaffer.
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Family friends described Wendy as ‘the heart of her family.’
According to the GoFundMe page, Wendy was mom to two young boys. Her sons were just 3 years old and 1 year old. Friends of the Shaffer family said Wendy was “a loving partner to her husband and a nurturing, joyful mother to her children.”
“She dedicated her life to creating a warm, loving home filled with laughter and care,” the page notes. “Her boys were her greatest pride and joy, and she dreamed of watching them grow into the amazing individuals she knew they would become.”
The friends want to support Wendy’s husband.
In addition to the grief the family is faced with due to this “unimaginable loss,” friends are also concerned about the “financial burden they now face,” the fundraising page noted. They acknowledged that “the road ahead will be challenging for her husband as he navigates life without his soulmate and raises their two young children.”
Their hope is that the fundraiser, which has brought in more than $250,000 thus far, will help provide “essential support for funeral expenses, childcare, education, and the day-to-day needs of the family.” This way, “the family can focus on healing and honoring Wendy’s memory.”
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Wendy ‘was a radiant soul.’
Friends of the family also wrote that Wendy’s “love, kindness, and unwavering spirit touched everyone who knew her, and her absence leaves a void that can never be filled.” In a statement shared on January 30, Wendy’s husband said he was “still waiting to wake up from this nightmare,” per People.
He also addressed his late wife directly, saying, “We will miss you more than words can express, Wendy Jo. I love you endlessly.”
The family shared a statement.
Wendy’s family also confirmed that she was on the American Airlines jet, according to ABC News. In a statement shared by the news outlet, her family said, “We are devastated. Words cannot truly express what Wendy Jo meant as a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife and most importantly, a mother. The family is requesting privacy at this time.”