Supercentenarian Profile

Lillian Schoonmaker

Born:

1915-11-26

Pine Bush, New York,

United States

Died:

2025-12-15

Pine Bush, New York,

United States

✔ Age Certified by LongeviQuest

Lillian Schoonmaker (née McEwen) was an American supercentenarian whose age has been validated by LongeviQuest.

BIOGRAPHY

Lillian “Lil” Schoonmaker was born on 26 November 1915 in Pine Bush, New York, United States, to parents Oscar Wallace McEwen (1888-1985) and Dora Decker (1885-1983). She grew up on the family farm with her siblings John (1914-2005), Janet (1920-2016), and Marietta (1924-2014). Growing up, she enjoyed outdoor activities including riding horses, ice skating, sledding, and racing down hills on homemade snow skis. For a time, she held a position at a clothing store in Middletown New York.

On 18 February 1940, Schoonmaker married Spencer Schoonmaker (1917-1983), and they had two daughters, Sharon (1944-2023) and Beverly (born 1948). In 1940, they inherited the 260-acre Bonney Brook farm in Gardiner, New York from Spencer Schoonmaker’s parents. Lillian worked on the farm, managing the household, tending to the garden, cooking, preserving food, caring for her children, and raising and tending to the chickens. Some of her other pastimes were sewing, crocheting, knitting, and quilting. In 1958, The farm was closed, and the couple opened an excavation business, where Lillian managing bookkeeping and landscaping.

Schoonmaker was active in her community as a member of the Shawangunk Reformed Church, where she assisted with church senior lunches, and as a participant in the Ladies Auxiliary of the Shawangunk Valley Fire Company. A legislative resolution honored her on her 100th birthday and emphasized the following life lessons she taught: to work hard, take kids outside in the garden, be a good neighbor, stay active with something to do, walk, avoid surgery if not necessary, never look back, and always keep a sense of humor.

She passed away at home on 15 December 2025 in Pine Bush, New York, United States, at the age of 110.