Nancy Heil-Schaffner

Nancy Heil-Schaffner, age 74, of Carbondale, left this world suddenly on November 17, 2025. The daughter of George and Gertrude (Schuster) Heil, Nancy grew up in a large family on a small farm in Piopolis, Illinois, with many aunts, uncles and cousins as her neighbors. 

After graduating McLeansboro High School, Nancy attended beauty and barber colleges to pursue a passion she had since childhood––helping others look and feel good about themselves. She eventually owned her own salon, Mane Effects in Carbondale, and met Brian Schaffner who was co-owner of B&L Photo next door. They were married in 1984 and eventually sold their businesses but Nancy continued at what some considered her art––with hair as the medium. She enjoyed getting to know her loyal clients including SIU professors, students and employees. Nancy and Brian shared a love of traveling and their destinations ranged from old river towns in Southern Illinois to Barcelona, Spain, or to New Orleans to visit their friend and SIU graduate Mark DeJarnette. Nancy was known for her great style and loved to shop whether for the right pair of shoes or a piece of odd outsider art. 

She loved her Southern Illinois life, including the beautiful bluffs and springtime flowers, antique shops, farmers’ markets, wineries, eateries, family gatherings at the family farm, and time with old friends as she continued to make new ones through biking, hiking or mahjong. She also loved the simple solitude of working in her garden, reading a book or playing Wordle. 

Nancy was preceded in death by her husband Brian, a sister Gladys Saddler and both her parents. She leaves behind Dan Parker, her dear friend and loving companion of eight years, and siblings Juanita Harrison, Charlene Thomas, Howard Heil, Joyce Corrigan, Mary Heil-Netzley, Sandy Farmer, Ron Heil, Roger Heil and Sharon Heil Liss, along with their spouses, including Lynn Bouseman, whom along with her childhood friend, Lois Van Winkle, she regarded as a sister. Also surviving is one maternal aunt, Lucille Herzing, and 20 nieces and nephews, including her goddaughter Courtney (Heil) Eden-Mamo.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

If you’d like to make a donation in her name to a charity dear to her, please consider the PBS Foundation or the Gliobastoma Foundation which is working on new drug therapies for the type of cancer that Brian Schaffner died from.

https://foundation.pbs.org/donation/

https://glioblastomafoundation.org/get-involved/donate

Ministry of Comfort was Lovingly Entrusted to Southern Cremation and Burial Services of Murphysboro, Ilinois.