Marilyn S. Schnaars

I was privileged to know Marilyn as we worked many Durand Hedden House events. She was the first person to greet the people of our community at the door with her warm smile and enthusiasm. She was affable and dependable and never let age, aches or weather get in the way of showing up! I cherish the memories I have of getting her cookies and cider to keep her battery charged :) A beautiful person, inside and out!

Marilyn was a beloved member of the South Orange-Vailsburg UMC for 87 years-its longest active member. A life well lived and worth remembering.

Thanks for never letting your friends down!

Marilyn always tose to every occasion to help her church community, her friends from early south orange days, and church women united. She loved growing up in South Orange Community and adopted Maplewood with her usual giving spirit. She took every outreach fundraiser as her own mission and made sure those doing the work got a hood hug and a " way to go." She made time for a friends breakfast in Fall of 2023 when we visited and always sent a Christmas card - ALWAYS! She was leader in the very authentic and real sense by showing " do as I say AND as I do." She walked the walk in the way of the pure hearted we rarely see anymore. We will will miss your upbeat chuckle Marilyn. I will visit Voorhees my next visit back East with Heidi, Laura, Zella and the Methodist Church youth - of days gone by and now.

What makes a church great isn't the walls, hymnals, the stained-glass, or even the altar -- but the people that fill the pews. Marilyn was the foundation of the South Orange Vailsburg United Methodist Church. Any time I attended a service or an event at the church, Marilyn was there. She told me she had attended the church since she was 5 years old -- which is 87 years! She was always there to support others and lend a hand. I will always remember her stories of Germany, church history, and Grunnings. I will fondly remember her (and see her as a role model of) kindness, helpfulness, supportiveness, and faithfulness. I hope she will live on in the minds and hearts of all who knew her as she will with me, my friends, and my family. She will be greatly missed, yet always remembered, by her church community. My deepest condolences to her many friends and entire family.

Stephanie Felzenberg

Deepest condolences on Marilyn´s passing. May her memory be a blessing to all who were fortunate enough to know her. I know she will live on in the fond memories of all who knew her. Today at a Senior Function, we left a chair at our tablebempty for her so her spirit could join us and I feel that it did.