John J. “Jack” Shaw of Verona passed away suddenly at home on July 31, 2011. He was 89 years old.
A funeral mass will be offered in Our Lady of the Lake Church on Thursday, August 4 at 10 a.m. Visiting in the Prout Funeral Home, 370 Bloomfield Avenue, on Tuesday from 7 to 9 p.m and Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.
He was predeceased by his bride of 62 years, Therese, his son Christopher and his brother Andrew. He is survived by his brother, Richard, his seven children, John C. and his wife Dawn, Robert A. and his wife Roberta, Kevin and his wife Christine, William and his wife Kathleen, MaryEllen and her husband Andy Krahel, Karen, Therese and her husband Michael Passafiume, seventeen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.
Jack served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and spent 10 days in a lifeboat after his ship was sunk in the Atlantic Ocean. His lifeboat was rescued by a Portuguese freighter on Palm Sunday 1943. Since then, this event has been joyously celebrated each Palm Sunday by his wife, eight children and all grandchildren every year. During each party a hearty chorus of “For He’s A Jolly Good Fellow” always evolved in which Jack always joined in.
After the war, he joined the Newark Police Department, then moved to the Essex County Sherriff’s Department before completing his career in 1984 as a Detective Lieutenant with the Prosecutor’s Office and board member and past president of the Essex County Employees Credit Union.
Jack spent his remaining years enjoying his family and friends and attending AOH meetings with his five sons. In 1996, he was honored by the Michael L. Delahunty Division Nine at their annual dinner dance.
It is hard to put into words what Dad has meant to all of us. He was a wonderful husband who married his childhood sweetheart. Theirs was a marriage that exemplified the meaning of “true love”. It was definitely a “marriage made in heaven”. For his family, he was an example of graciousness, stability, kindness, and fun. He, along with Mom, passed on the importance of their Catholic faith to all of us. He was a true gentleman who lived his life to the fullest, always opening his home to daughters and sons-in-law, grandchildren, friends, and pets. He made everyone feel truly welcome with his greeting “Good to see you!” and we felt happy just to be in his presence. We all have so many heartfelt memories of happy times spent with both Mom and Dad. We will miss them both so much, but feel blessed and grateful for having had such wonderful parents.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Verona Rescue Squad, 12 Church Street, Verona NJ 07044 would be appreciated.
