Grace “Toolie” Kusterer, 94, a resident of Cadbury at Lewes, passed away Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012.

Born in New Haven, Conn., she was married to Donald Kusterer for 58 years until his death.  She worked with him in New Haven as co-owner and manager of Kusterer Bros. Real Estate until her retirement at age 75.  A graduate of what is now Quinnipiac University, her first job was on the New York Stock Exchange, reading the stock ticker and chalking up the latest transactions on the Big Board.

Trained in World War II as a Red Cross blood-bank nurse, she carried on that work as a part-time volunteer for almost 50 years.

She was a member of First Church of Christ in Woodbridge, Conn. and served several terms as a deacon on its governing board.  She was for many years an officer and board member of charitable and service organizations in New Haven.

A passionate golfer, she took up the game at age 15 and was still playing in two senior women’s leagues at age 90.  For a decade she was the Executive Secretary of the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association.

From 1943 to 2005, she and her husband spent summers in a cottage that he built on Summer Island in Branford, Conn.  In 1968, they became charter owners of the new Conquistador, a senior condo complex in Stuart, Fla., where on retirement they became winter residents.  In 2007, she moved to Delaware to become a charter resident in the newly-opened Cadbury at Lewes.

She is survived by a son, Ken Kusterer of Lewes; a daughter, Sally Elmo of Oak Island, N.C.; eight grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
All services are private.

Donations in her name may be made to the National Stroke Association, www.stroke.org or email info@stroke.org.