Obituary of Jeanette Schrader

Jeanette Grant (Swart) Schrader died Sunday, August 11, 2013, at home peacefully, her perceptive insight and keen wit uncompromised, her warm hearted appreciation of playful mischief only slightly tempered. Jeanette was 95. Born June 15, 1918, daughter of the late C. Harmon Swart and Jesse Sarah (Grant) Swart, she began her education with a short walk from home to the nearby one room brick school house. A generation later she would watch her sons, David and Peter, begin their educations with that same short walk to that same one room school house. She graduated from Scotia High School, class of 1936, and continued on, earning an Associate's Degree in Business Administration as a 1939 graduate of Green Mountain Jr. College, Poultney Vermont. After graduation Jeanette worked at WGY radio, married Henry M. "Harry" Schrader December 19, 1942, and during WW II worked as a secretary for General Electric in their downtown office. She served on Consistory as an elder for the First Reformed Church of Glenville, West Glenville NY, of which she has been an active member for 81 years. Jeanette is a 64 year member of the West Glenville Volunteer Fire Company District #6, the first woman volunteer firefighter in New York State honored by proclamation of the Firemen's Association of the State of New York for having dedicated 50 years of her life to the volunteer firefighting service. Jeanette understood giving back to community. Living in a rural area, safety and survival often depended upon neighbor helping neighbor. For a period of years when a person needed help they dialed the designated emergency number connecting them directly to Harry and Jeanette's home. Typically Jeanette would answer, alert and clear-minded, calmly collect the details, and then rush outside to activate the alarm switch located on the front of the Schrader garage. The siren at the firehouse would then sound the alarm, summoning help from the surrounding countryside, and next Jeanette either directed responders at the road intersection in front of her home or she would run to the fire station to inform and direct the arriving volunteers. Jeanette has been known to assemble housewife neighbors to fight daytime brushfires when husbands were away at their places of work. Jeanette maintained a life-long interest in American history, uncovering deep ancestral roots throughout the northeast, some with connections across the pond dating as far back as the 1400's. Her beloved hills around Glenville nurtured ancestors whose tales of exploits when discovered, delighted and fascinated her, whether famous, nefarious or just a colorful local character. Jeanette was especially proud of her English, Scottish, and Dutch heritage, collecting tartan and delft blue items, and cherished her grandmother from England's bone china set, among other things. She also appreciated American Indian history and their teachings. On the walls of her home one could view special touches of personal history that included framed, ancestral Civil War photographs and sayings of yesteryears. Her knowledge of genealogy is extensive, the result of years of well-focused study. She shared her interest in genealogy with her family and often amazed her grandchildren with her ability to recite ancestral names, dates, and countries of origin - all from memory. Jeanette is a 50 year member of the Amsterdam Chapter, National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, and has served as Chapter Regent (and several other offices). She has been District Director, District IV, of the New York State Organization, NSDAR, and Chairman of the NYS American History Award Committee. Jeanette is a life member of the Clan Grant Society, member Palatine Settlement Society, and member Nellis Family Association. After the war, Harry and Jeanette decided to settle in West Glenville and thus began the conversion of her father's general store into a home where they would raise their two boys, welcome generations of neighbors, and develop countless friendships of all ages over the next 65 years. They were fortunate in having a good well, sharing their water freely with neighbors who declared it "the best water around". Access was easy enough with the hand pump located next to the picket fence. Of only minor inconvenience was the need to chop ice off the pump in the winter. Early on Jeanette made the boy's clothes herself, and as they grew older she found time to be a Cub Scout Den Mother and a 4-H Club leader. Jeanette learned how to prepare and cook small game - mostly rabbit and partridge, and venison, moose and bear. Her renowned skill for preparing wild game reached its pinnacle with the hind-quarter venison roast. Annually invitations were sent to special friends who hunted the deep woods sharing Harry and Jeanette's reverence for the Adirondacks. The venison was cooked for hours using a slowly turning spit in the large open fireplace situated in the den of their home. This time was judiciously applied to catching up and then to the telling of favorite stories of the great hunts of the past. This annual experience reinforced already strong bonds of friendship. This is the same den fireplace that provided the setting for the marriage of Jeanette's youngest son. Jeanette's love of the outdoors and of all of nature through all seasons, meant you might find her skiing, skating, fishing, camping, hiking, gardening or hunting. The Schrader home was warm and inviting for all who came for a visit. Jeanette enjoyed baking for family and community events, experimenting with recipes, making homemade jams, and sharing the successes from a bountiful garden. Jeanette treasured family relationships and held each individual family member close to her with their own special connection. Often she would walk next door to visit with her sister to share the news of current events or the latest delight to come out of the oven. She enjoyed gathering the family for what has become a summer tradition of competitive croquet. Family gatherings at holiday time have been full of laughter, much of it instigated by her mischief. Often, during competitive games of "Hearts", she would make a sequence of surprise moves stunning everyone and emerging the unanticipated game winner. Giggling at the expense of one or more grandchildren until her eyes watered, Jeanette would once again bring joy and laughter into the lives of her family. Jeanette was predeceased by her husband of 65 years, Henry M. Schrader in May of 2007, and by a son, David H. Schrader in June of 2005. She is survived by a son Peter H. Schrader (wife Christy), of West Charlton; daughter-in-law Rose Marie Schrader, Clifton Park; former daughter-in-law Lois B. Schrader, West Glenville; grandchildren; Joel H. Schrader (Shannon), McDonough GA; Kathryn G. (Schrader) Wright (Neil), Malta; Erin C. (Schrader) Loiacono (Matthew), Ballston Lake; Silas P. Schrader (Leigh), West Glenville; and Nicholas S. Schrader, Troy; one great grandchild Nora Lillie Loiacono, Ballston Lake; four step-grandchildren, five step-great-grandchildren, and a niece and three nephews. She is also survived by her sister Elisabeth S. Nicholson (Roland), West Glenville. Honoring Jeanette's wishes burial service will be private. Saturday August 24 at 2:00 p.m., the First Reformed Church of Glenville, West Glenville, will hold a service for the community, "a time of thanksgiving for Jeanette", officiated by her friend Bill, the Reverend Doctor William E. Faulkner. Light refreshments will be served