Obituary of Eda Mary Knapp Brooker

Eda Mary Knapp Brooker Town of Fishkill - Eda Mary Knapp Brooker, 96, a resident of Fishkill Health Related Center, entered into rest December 24, 2005 at Fishkill Health Related Center. Mrs. Brooker was raised in Shenandoah, East Fishkill, moving to Fishkill in 1947. She has been a lifelong resident of the area. She was born July 7, 1909 in Stamford, CT, the daughter of Dedrick R. Knapp, Sr. and the former Elinor Frances O'Donnell. Her grandparents were Robert T. and Melissa Gilbert Knapp and Julius and Mary Vermilyea O'Donnell. Mrs. Brooker was a 1927 graduate of Beacon High School and a 1931 graduate of the Vassar Nursing School, Poughkeepsie and had been a registered nurse at Vassar Hospital and a traveling nurse. She later joined her husband at RJ Brooker, Inc., an office supply store in Poughkeepsie. She retired in the early 1970s. She was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church, Shenandoah. On June 5, 1932 in Kent, CT she married Russell James Brooker, Sr. Her husband survives at Fishkill Health Related Center. They had been married for 73 years. Other survivors include a son, R. James Brooker, Jr. and his wife, Sandra J. of Wappingers Falls; two daughters, Carolyn B. Minard and her husband, William Jr. of Wappingers Falls and Laurie B. Muro and her husband, Peter of Lake Ariel, PA; a brother, D. Robert Knapp, Jr. of Delan, FL; thirteen grandchildren, Dennis, Deborah and Dale Brooker, David, Douglas, and Daniel Robinson, Janine McQueen, Karen Taylor, Kristina DeBerardinus, Kevin Muro, Donna Magro, Diana Mirra and Cristina Gensky; twenty-four great-grandchildren; four nieces and one nephew. She was predeceased by her brother Donald Knapp in 1996. Visitation will be from 7-9 pm on Tuesday, December 27, 2005 at Straub Funeral Home, 55 E. Main St., Wappingers Falls. Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 28, 2005 at 11 am at the funeral home with Pastor Ralph Verdu officiating. Interment will be in Shenandoah Rural Cemetery, Shenandoah. Memorial donations on Mrs. Brooker's behalf may be made to Fishkill Health Related Center, Alzheimer's Unit (North 1), 22 Robert R. Kasin Way, Beacon, NY 12508 To send the family an online condolence or for directions, please visit www.straubfuneralhome.com