Anne Gretchen Hazzard

(Anne) Gretchen Hazzard, 87, a resident of Spring, Texas, died peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, March 19. Gretchen was born in Newark, NJ, the oldest daughter of August R. Schnitzler and Anna Justine (Lackey) Schnitzler. She was a force of nature whose presence could be felt as soon as she entered a room. Her smile was electric, her laugh contagious and her energy unmatched. While Gretchen was born in New Jersey, she spent most of her life in New York. As a child she split time between West Orange, New Jersey and a country home in West Shokan, New York. It was in the Catskills that she developed her great love for animals of all kinds. She provided a home to any animal that needed medical attention or simply a family to call it’s own. Her attachment to animals also led to her becoming an accomplished equestrian. Gretchen attended Cornell University, and it’s there that she met her soulmate, Robert (Bob) D. Hazzard. Gretchen and Bob married and began their family while in Ithaca. After Bob graduated Cornell Law School, they left for his stint in Germany as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, and eventually settled in Katonah, New York where they raised their family. In addition to her role of managing the household, Gretchen immersed herself in volunteer work including the local PTA, managing cookie sales for the local Girl Scout troop, the Katonah Beautification Society, running the Katonah Thrift Shop, and various political roles including serving as the Chairman of the Bedford Republican Committee. As her children left home, Gretchen shifted to build a patchwork career that included time as a vet tech, real estate agent and salesperson for luxury goods. After Bob’s passing in 2004, Gretchen moved to Spring TX to be near her daughter and her family. Gretchen is survived by her siblings and their spouses: Karen and Rupert Hitzig of Los Angeles, CA, Peter and Cheryl Schnitzler of Brielle, NJ and Thomas Schnitzler of Napa Valley, CA; her sister-in-law, Sally Slaymaker of Lancaster, PA; and her children and their spouses: Jody and Roger Halik of Spring, TX; Lawrence and Kristine (Burns) Hazzard of Glen Allen, VA and Robert and Jessica (Lally) Hazzard of Hopkinton, MA. The role that brought her the greatest joy was as "Deah" to her grandchildren and their spouses: Matthew and Ashleigh Hazzard, Sarah Hazzard and Bekah Mumm, Hillary and Nick Basile, Elissa and Thomas Bourne, Lauren Hazzard and Emilie O’Lexey, Jeremy and Meaghan (Parlee) Hazzard and her great grandchildren Declan and Hale Hazzard, Beatrix and Louise Basile and Briar and Otto Bourne. A private ceremony will be held as Gretchen is interred alongside her husband in Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made in her name to: Rock N Rescue, 1 Babbitt Rd, Bedford Hills, NY 10507.

Anne Gretchen Hazzard

May 11, 1937 - March 19, 2025