Grace Schnaars of Water Mill died on February 27 at the Hamptons Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing in Southampton. She was 90.
Born in Brooklyn, Ms. Schnaars was the daughter of Adolph Koltzow and Kitty Andresen. Her parents later moved to Babylon, where she attended and graduated from Babylon High School. She worked for the telephone company during World War II and for a few years after that. In 1944 she married Warren D. Schnaars, also of Babylon. In 1955 they bought the Peconic Beach Club, now known as the Southampton Peconic Beach Club, and they raised their family there until 1975, when they sold the club and moved to Maine. There she set up house and worked at a few part-time jobs before she discovered the Cherryfield Library, where she worked for quite a few years.
After 59 years of marriage she was widowed and moved back to Long Island to live with her daughter and son-in-law in Water Mill. She kept an immaculate home and loved watching sunsets and football, and most of all spending time with family and friends.
Ms. Schnaars is survived by a daughter, Denyse McNamara and husband Daniel of Water Mill; three grandchildren, Dan McNamara and wife Cyndi of East Quogue, Dean McNamara and wife Jamie of Southampton, and Shanon Dahlstrom and husband Ross of Massachusetts; and seven great-grandchildren, Jocelyn and Taylor McNamara, Makinley, Hayleigh and Patrick McNamara, and Morgan and Shane Dahlstrom. A brother, Robert Koltzow of Florida, also survives her. She was predeceased by her husband, Warren, and a son, Duane.
Plans are being made for a memorial gathering in the spring. Arrangements are under the direction of the O’Connell Funeral Home in Southampton.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
on Mar 2, 2015