Obituary: Edward A. Shaker of Middlebury

Edward A. Shaker

“Loving father, grandfather & brother”

Obituary courtesy of Chase Parkway Memorial Funeral Home

Middlebury, CT - It is with the heaviest of hearts that Corey, Janet and Paul Shaker announce the passing of their wonderful father, Edward A. Shaker, into the arms of their loving mother, Lillian, who passed away on December 14, 2017. He passed very peacefully on the morning of January 1, 2020, surrounded by those that loved him dearly at ninety three years of age.
Edward was born on May 15, 1926 to Joseph and Sadie (Malloula) Shaker in Massser El Chouf, Lebanon. He traveled to America when he was only a year and a half, with his mother and sisters, Rose and Adla, to meet their father, Joseph who came to America ahead of their arrival to establish their home.

One doesn’t talk about all the accomplishments of our father in a two or three paragraph obituary. We would rather talk about the legacy he lived by and taught us to live by. Dad’s greatest love is his love for his God, and his greatest devotion to our Blessed Mother. He lived and breathed this devotion in everything he did. His other greatest love is the love for his family, that there is nothing greater or more important. He lived by this philosophy, and God help anyone who challenged this. He also taught us the importance of our word. He learned this from his father after the devastating flood of 1955. He and his father were able to secure funds to rebuild our business, and pay back any creditors the business owed at the time. His father instructed him, “We will pay back every penny with those funds”. His father stated, “You tie a donkey with a rope and man with his word”.

He loved America. He was a veteran of WWII and served his country as a Sergeant in the US Army in Germany after graduating from Crosby High School in 1944. There is not a flag he would pass that he wouldn’t stop to salute. He would comment to its beauty and meaning flying so proudly in the sky. These lessons have been instilled in all of us, and will be within our hearts forever.

It would take pages and pages to tell the thousands of stories as to the establishment of our family business over the 90 year history. In addition, we must include the amazing partnership Edward shared with his brother Richard, and sister Rose. They worked together tirelessly, side by side, loving each other without ever raising their voices despite the many pressures of operating a business. They always appreciated the people of Waterbury and nearby communities, recognizing the support and loyalty of our customers. Our father showed us the importance of caring for your community as our community has cared for us, by volunteering and contributing to various philanthropic causes to those in need.

In business, Edward was chosen as “Time Magazine Dealer of the Year” in 1990, and served proudly on many committies and boards, including Centerbank. Edward was so proud of being a member of the Country Club of Waterbury and the PGA National of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Edward leaves behind to carry on his legacy, his daughter, Janet A Shaker of Middlebury, his son Corey and his wife Danielle of Woodbury and Paul Shaker and his husband Cleveland Williams of Bloomfield. He has three amazing grandchildren, Lindsey, Kristen and Edward Shaker, and his most cherished “baby”brother, Richard Shaker and his wife Labibe of Prospect. He adored his niece Sadie O’Rourke and her husband Brian of Sandisfield, Massachusetts, his nephews Joseph Shaker and his wife Susan of Needham, Massachusetts, Steven Shaker and his wife Holly of Middlebury and Edward D. Shaker and his wife Marisa, also from Middlebury. Along with many nieces and nephews, cousins and friends. He loved them all.

Arrangements: A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, January 6, 2020 10:00 a.m. to Our Lady of Lebanon Church in Waterbury. Everyone is kindly asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will be in the spring at Lake Elise Cemetery in Middlebury. Calling hours will be held on Sunday evening from 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Chase Parkway Memorial, The Albini Family Funeral Home, 430 Chase Parkway, Waterbury.

Memorial contributions can be made in Edward’s memory to:

Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church
8 East Mountain Road
Waterbury, CT 06706

SERVICES

Visitation

Sunday, January 05, 2020
2:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Chase Parkway Memorial
430 Chase Parkway
Waterbury, Connecticut 06708
Get Directions on Google Maps

Mass of Christian Burial

Monday, January 06, 2020
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Burial will be in the spring at Lake Elise Cemetery in Middlebury.