The Rev. John “Jack” Francis Abel Jr.
November 23, 1960 - October 9, 2024
John Francis Abel, Jr, known as Jack, age 63, passed away on October 9, 2024, in Milton, Delaware, from complications of a preexisting condition. He was born November 23, 1960, in Geneva, Illinois, the fourth of five children of John F. and Irene (Bradley) Abel. He worked as Corporate Director of Spiritual Care at Caron Treatment Centers, in Wernersville, PA. Rev. Jack was recognized internationally as a chaplain supervisor and subject matter expert on addiction and interfaith spirituality.
His family moved to Belgium when Jack started grade school in 1965, inspiring a lifelong love of French culture and international travel. They moved to suburban Philadelphia in 1969, where Jack graduated from Harriton High School in 1977. He studied mathematics and music at Hampshire College, graduating in 1982.
Jack co-founded the family's Midway Office and Arts Supply in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware in 1983 and worked there for several years. Jack graduated with an M.B.A. from Wilmington College in 1994 yet sought a different lifestyle and career.
Jack's life changed dramatically when he got sober at age 28. By his own admission, he became envious of others who had grown in happiness and faith during sobriety. An avowed atheist with many questions, he dedicated his attention and then his life to spirituality. He earned his M.Div. at Wesley Theological Seminary, graduating Summa Cum Laude with an Award for Liturgical Scholarship in 1998.
Jack served as a congregational pastor for the next ten years. First at St. John's UMC in Seaford, DE, then at Hopewell UMC in Port Deposit, MD, in the Peninsula-Delaware Conference. He was called as Senior Pastor to Epworth UMC in Rehoboth Beach, DE from 2001-2008. After leaving congregational ministry, Jack earned an Interfaith Ministry degree from the New Seminary in 2010.
During his fifteen years at Caron, Rev. Jack supervised a team of chaplains as Senior and then Corporate Director of Spiritual Care. As principal presider of the Sunday Caron Chapel service, he welcomed client participation as a therapeutic strategy. Many of Rev. Jack's chapel talks are preserved on the Caron Chapel You Tube channel. He also helped design and launch Caron's clinical pastoral education (CPE) program for addiction-related spiritual care.
Caron Treatment Centers will hold a celebration of life service on Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 2:00pm in Chit Chat Auditorium at Caron. There is no need to RSVP; if a large number of people attend, they will open an overflow room.
Called a visionary and a blue flame thinker by his colleagues, Jack felt most honored by the 1 :1 relationship with clients and families in care whose suffering challenged him to become a better person, a more humble witness, and a tireless champion of hope and trust in the recovery process. Jack advocated for the professional recognition of addiction chaplains and for inclusive interfaith chaplaincy.
Jack married the love of his life, Judy Schrader in 2016 and one of his greatest joys was becoming a stepparent to Judy's two sons, Jason and Jared, and their extended families. He wrote, " I am grateful that I have been given time to wake up and make strides in my aspiration to be a 'family person'." In his free time, Jack enjoyed playing piano, running, painting, beaching, family activities, and travel.
Rev. Jack is survived by his beloved wife Judy Schrader, stepsons Jason (Courtney) Cooper and granddaughters Lyla and Charlotte; Jared Schrader (girlfriend Kayla Myrbeck); siblings James Abel (fiancée Katie Boggs), Poteet, Texas, and Marianne (Harry) Abel-Lipschutz, Cedar Falls, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and loved ones. He was preceded in death by his parents John F. and Irene (Bradley) Abel, and two brothers, David, and Stephen.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2024, 1 :00-3:00pm at the Lighthouse Cove Event Center, 1301 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach, DE 19971
In lieu of flowers: Donations can be made to the Caron Treatment Centers, https://www.caron.org/donate. Attn: Development Dept. Chapel Fund.
Dates & Times:
Memorial Service: Saturday, November 16, 2024, 1:00-3:00pm,
at the Lighthouse Cove Event Center,
1301 Coastal Highway, Dewey Beach, DE 19971
Prayers of Remembrance: Sunday, October 27, 2024,
during the 10:15am Worship Service,
at the United Church of Christ of Robesonia,
301 West Penn Avenue, Robesonia, PA 19551
Celebration of Life: Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 2:00pm
Caron Treatment Centers, Wernersville
in the Chit Chat Auditorium