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A woman from Minnesota who most recently lived in North Carolina is among the victims who died after an American Airlines plane collided with an Army helicopter on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

A GoFundMe campaign said Wendy Jo Shaffer was killed in the crash. The page, organized by friends of her family, described her as a wife and mother of 1- and 3-year-old sons.

“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,” said a statement from the family posted on the GoFundMe.

Paige Buss, who said she is Shaffer’s cousin, confirmed to MPR News that Shaffer is from Minnesota but declined to speak further. Members of Shaffer’s immediate family declined to speak with MPR News. 

for her family raised more than $260,000 as of Friday afternoon. 

Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin posted on X that he is friends with Shaffer’s husband Nate and shared a statement from him.

“I’m still waiting to wake up from this nightmare, but I fear this is the truth. Wendy was not just beautiful on the outside, but was a truly amazing woman through and through. She was the best wife, mother, and friend that anyone could ever hope for. Her love, kindness, and strength touched everyone she met. We will miss you more than words can express, Wendy Jo. I love you endlessly! Rest in peace, my love,” 

 reported Shaffer graduated from Mahtomedi High School in 2007 and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012 with a degree in chemical engineering, according to Shaffer’s friend. 

MPR News reporters Erica Zurek and Nicole Ki and producer Gretchen Brown contributed to this report.

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Family confirmed that Wendy Jo Shaffer, a wife and mother living in North Carolina, graduated from Mahtomedi High School.

Woman from Minnesota among D.C. plane crash victims

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