"That rocking chair will never be filled in the same way," Durand-Hedden President Gail Safian said when sharing the sad news of the passing of long-time Durand-Hedden trustee and volunteer Marilyn Schnaars.
Marilyn Schnaars passed away on March 11, 2025, at the age of 92. The Durand-Hedden community will never forget Marilyn's smile and warm greeting for all who walked through the doors of Durand-Hedden House.
For many years, Marilyn, along with trustee Marilyn White, conducted presentations at the 18th-century hearth of the Durand-Hedden House for students from nearby schools. Dressed in period costumes, they demonstrated how women tended the home fire, peeled apples, washed clothes, and made butter. The children, often fourth graders, always responded enthusiastically to Marilyn's engaging manner and gained an understanding of the differences between 18th-century and 21st-century life.
The Durand-Hedden House & Garden community mourns the loss of our colleague and dear friend, and we extend our sympathies to Marilyn's family. A full obituary can be read here. A celebration of life is planned in South Orange in the spring.
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