Ann Farber Schilder, 55, of Great Neck, wife, mother and friend to the community, passed away on Monday, Dec. 17. The cause of death was pancreatic cancer. She died at home, holding the hands of her husband, daughter and son.
“She was a mother, mentor and best friend,” said her son, Bruce Ira Schilder, 27, of Great Neck. “She definitely was the matriarch, even of our extended family.”
Born at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan on April 1, 1957, Ann grew up in Valley Stream. There, she met her future husband, Marc David Schilder, at Valley Stream Central High School.
“They were high school sweethearts,” said their son. In addition to her husband and son, Ann is survived by her daughter, Tracy Sara Schilder, 23, of Great Neck.
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business at Syracuse University, Ann joined the family business, Sydney Farber & Son Inc., a wholesale giftware company based out of Great Neck.
The family lived in Valley Stream for many years and moved to Great Neck in 1980.
In 2010, she joined Anton Community Newspapers as a sales representative covering Glen Cove and Oyster Bay.
“We are all very proud of the drive, passion, and natural-born sales ability that enabled her to start a new career at 53 years old,” said her son.
It was a perfect fit.
“My mother was loving, social and very elegant. She could talk to any stranger and make a friend. In fact, she could dial a wrong number and turn it into a conversation.”
She worked at Anton until her illness prevented it earlier this year.
“Ann was a wonderful person and a wonderful salesperson,” said Frank A. Virga, executive vice president of sales and operations at Anton. “All of us miss her very much.”
A member of Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, Ann was interred at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY where she may rest in peace.
In memory of Ann, her family asks anyone who wishes to make a donation do so to Syracuse University, Temple Beth-El or a cancer-research organization “to help ensure that someday, this will not happen to anyone ever again.”
Ann will be greatly missed by her friends and family. She will always be remembered for her acts of kindness and generous spirit.
