Obituary of Claire Katherine Quinzer

Claire Quinzer (nee Frey) passed away at age 97 in Virginia Beach, due to medical complications that ensued on May 16, 2024. She lived a full life, surpassing the age of anyone in her extended families.

Claire was born and raised in Little Ferry, NJ, and lived there her entire life. She was preceded in death by her parents Katherine Frey (nee White) and Frederick Frey, her sister, Evelyn VonGlan (nee Frey), her beloved husband, Matthew George Quinzer, and her beloved son, Jeffrey Quinzer. She is survived by her beloved son Gregory Quinzer, of Virginia Beach, VA, who was her primary caregiver for most of the past 9 years.

Claire was a graduate of Lodi High School in Lodi, NJ. She became a secretary and worked for a firm in Manhattan for 5 years. Then she obtained a job as a secretary for the Bendix Corporation. While there, she attended an engagement party for Rita, a coworker. Small world that it is, at the party, she met Matthew, Rita’s cousin. They started dating and Matthew and Claire were married on July 1, 1950 and were married for 61 years until his passing. They built their home in Little Ferry. After having their 2 sons, Claire took a hiatus from working until Jeff and Greg were older and in high school. After, she resumed working, becoming a secretary for Matthew’s small HVAC business, Phillip E. Quinzer Inc (named after it’s founder, his late father), in Lyndhurst, NJ, until they retired in 1988.

Claire was very proud of her sons, loved her extended family, friends, and members of her church. So much so that she enjoyed entertaining them; particularly at their summer vacation home in Virginia Beach, VA, which her and Matthew purchased in May of 1986.

Claire loved to cook delicious meals, and hosting relatives for holiday meals. She enjoyed baking and loved doing that with her mother. She had a deep concern for others, helping to care for older relatives, and looking in on older neighbors. She had an open door when it came to her son’s friends, especially their college friends. Given the close proximity to New York City, many of her son’s friends spent a night or two over a weekend at the Quinzer’s, which earned 5 star ratings for breakfast before they went into the city for the day. Her hospitality earned her the title from some of them, “Ma Quinzer”!

Although many who knew her have passed on, she will be sorely missed by the people whose lives she touched.

There will be a visitation and services (beginning at noon) on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 11AM – 1PM at Vorhees-Ingwersen Funeral Home at 59 Main Street, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660. Internment at George Washington Memorial Park to follow at 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, recognition of Claire’s life can be contributed to the First Presbyterian Church of Moonachie, 221 Moonachie Rd, Moonachie, NJ 07074.