Anna Schwab Grau

Anna Schwab Grau, the daughter of Edward Schwab Sr, whom served in the Army, and Virginia Anderson Schwab, peacefully passed away on July 21, 2025 under hospice care at Cape Canaveral Hospital. Anna was a resident of Brevard County, Florida for the majority of her life, but she was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on October 2nd, 1948. She often emphasized that she had a great childhood in Pittsburgh, but she just fell in love with Florida, specifically her hometown, Merritt Island.

Anyone who had the opportunity of meeting Anna never forgot her immense passion for her pet cats, gardening, 80s music, cooking, and for her Granddaughter Arielle that she earned custody of and took under her wing since Arielle was only 7 years old (she is now 35). Anna earned a high school diploma in which she always said that she had such fun times at Edgewood High School, which was located literally in her back yard behind the family home that her Father built in the 1950s. Anna just loved helping others, she had such an uplifting personality, and always tried to stay positive and motivational, especially during these past few years that she became ill from Cancer and Congestive Heart Failure. For years, Anna worked at what used to be called the Space Coast Center of Independent Living, that specialized in assisting handicapped/disabled individuals so that they could be as independent in their lives as the next person. She adored her job, and even spent many weekends volunteering to further help these people in need (she always brought Arielle along and taught her to have a strong work ethic and to be kind and to have empathy for others). Anna made so many long-term friends by working there, they loved her just as much as she loved them.

During these past few months Anna became very ill, and had good days and bad days, but on a good day she would spend the entire day outside tending to her beautiful garden, feeding the squirrels, the birds, and her goose, and sending her loved one’s pictures of the beautiful flowers she grew, she really had a green thumb! Before bed each night, even on her bad days, she would spend a couple hours playing with her kitties while watching her favorite cooking and game shows. She would never go to bed without sending sweet goodnight texts to her granddaughter Arielle. Anna always said that she had a wonderful life, and that she had no regrets, despite being sick for years she was very blessed and loved! Anna was also one of the most generous human beings one could meet. Every holiday or birthday, she would go out of her way to make others feel so loved and appreciated, and she was so creative, she made the most gorgeous wrapped gifts, it surely was another passion of hers.

When Anna was younger she would spend her free time with her childhood best friend ever, Larry Fowler, luckily, they remained friends throughout the years and he was even there (as well as her granddaughter Arielle) at her bedside during her last moments on this Earth. She was not alone, she was surrounded by love, and she knew it. During this past year, Anna also gained a new best friend, Elaine Sovich, they actually met when Anna was in rehab at Solaris after a heart failure flare up. Although they did not know each other for that long, their bond was truly unbreakable. Anyone who knew her would say that she was such a loyal friend, and so strong and resilient, she truly was an inspiration and will continue to be for her friends and loved ones.

Before her time came, Anna emphasized that she was going to heaven to be with her loved ones that were waiting for her, which consisted of her Mother Virginia Schwab, her Father Edward Schwab, her daughter April Smith, and her beloved cat Munchkin. Anna is survived by her son William Smith and his family that reside in Georgia (she had three great grandchildren that she loved deeply), her brother Edward Schwab Junior that lives in Rockledge Florida (he would come visit Anna every other week and spend the weekend together) and her Granddaughter Arielle that lived with her and was also her caretaker during these past few years of Anna’s life. I’d like to acknowledge the hospice center at Cape Canaveral hospital, the nurses there made sure Anna was comfortable and content during her last days on this Earth. They also provided much needed emotional support for Arielle after her passing. They truly are angels sent from God to make a heartbreaking situation easier to cope with.

Anna left a will and made it clear that she did not wish to have a funeral service nor anything that would make anyone feel sad, rather, she wanted a celebration of life in which her friends and family could come together and celebrate the time they spent with her, recollect special memories, eat good food, play her favorite rock songs, and for the adults, maybe have a couple of her favorite alcoholic beverages; Corona and Pina Coladas! One thing I have learned from Anna is that life is beautiful, despite the hardships, despite the turmoil, despite any trauma from our past, we must live in the moment and not let the past define us, we must continue to grow and be humble, and most importantly we must love one another, love is all you need!