John Francis Abel Jr., pastor, spiritual care director
John Francis Abel Jr., 63, known as Jack, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024, in Milton, from complications of a preexisting condition. He was born Nov. 23, 1960, in Geneva, Ill., 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 Art Supply in Rehoboth Beach in 1983 and worked there for several years. Jack graduated with an MBA from Wilmington College in 1994, yet sought a different lifestyle and career.
Jack's life changed dramatically when he got sober at 28. By his 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 MDiv 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 10 years, first at St. John's UMC in Seaford, 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 from 2001-08. After leaving congregational ministry, Jack earned an interfaith ministry degree from the New Seminary in 2010.
During his 15 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 YouTube channel. He also helped design and launch Caron's clinical pastoral education program for addiction-related spiritual care.
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 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 traveling.
Rev. Jack is survived by his beloved wife, Judy Schrader; stepsons, Jason (Courtney) Cooper, and granddaughters Lyla and Charlotte, and Jared Schrader (girlfriend Kayla Myrbeck); siblings, James Abel (fiancée Katie Boggs) of Poteet, Texas, and Marianne (Harry) Abel-Lipschutz of 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 from 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16, at Lighthouse Cove Event Center, 1301 Coastal Hwy., Dewey Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Caron Treatment Centers, Attn: Development Dept. Chapel Fund, caron.org/donate.
Visit Jack's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
