Hazel M. Schaefer

Born Hazel M. Kelly in Manhattan, she lived in Astoria, Queens, for 16 years before moving to Port Richmond in 1969. After moving to several neighborhoods on Staten Island, Mrs. Schaefer settled in Great Kills.

She was a telephone operator for two hotels including the Carlyle Hotel in Manhattan and the Mens Union Club also in Manhattan before retiring in 1997.

Mrs. Schaefer enjoyed spending time with her family, dancing and loved music. Her son-in-law is a musician who plays guitar and she would attend many of his performances.

She was a member of St. Clare's R.C. Church, Great Kills.

Her husband of 17 years, Gerard E. Schaefer, died in 1969. Her granddaughter, Tracey Mack, died in 2004, and another grandchild, Shawn Schaefer-Parente, died in 2010.

Surviving are her son, Gerard; four daughters, Sharon Mack, Margaret Parente, Deborah Sofia and Jacqueline Cromer; 12 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be Tuesday from the Casey-McCallum-Rice South Shore Funeral Home, Great Kills, with a mass at 9:45 a.m. in St. Clare's Church. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Toms River, N.J.