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Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, December 30, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 31, 2016 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road Wayne, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.
Carmen “Shad” Velardi, age 90 of Wayne, died peacefully on December 27, 2016 with his family at his bedside.
Shad, as he was known to his friends and family, was born in NYC and raised along with his 3 brothers in Wayne. Shad was the 3rd loving son of Frank and Fortunata Velardi. He was born on November the 22nd, 1926, and after 1963 whenever anyone asked him when his birthday was, he would respond “the day they shot Kennedy.”
He attended Wayne Schools never graduating. During the 40’s it was more important to go to work and earn a living to help support the family than it was to get an education. Prior to becoming employed by the Wayne Township DPW, Shad was employed by Anderson Engineering in Hawthorne, Ruffalo Construction in Singac, and Fabers Laundry in Haledon. Shad started his career at the Wayne DPW in the early 1950’s being one of only 6 DPW employees and retired after more than 30 years of dedicated service to the township and the citizens of Wayne. From his home on Ford Street Shad walked to work every day, in all kinds of weather, even all the way to Fabers in Haldeon. If friends saw him walking they would give him a ride, but most times he walked everywhere he went.
Shad loved the snow, and would shovel whenever he was healthy enough to do so. When he couldn’t shovel anymore, he would ride in the truck with his nephew Greg, and they would “go plowing”.
Shad was never married, and lived in the same house from the day he was born until his passing.
Shad was extremely strong, the first time he met his niece Gillian was at dinner at Frank’s mother’s house. Shad didn’t want to wait for his sister in-law Eleanor to get him a knife to cut his after dinner apple, so he just took the apple in between his big hands, and twisted it in half. Gillian was shocked! She had never seen or met anyone before who could twist an apple in half. For as strong as he was, he was just as gentle and kind. Shad was one of the most caring giving people to ever walk on God’s good earth. He would do anything, for anyone, any time. There was a time when a dump truck, or cement mixer couldn’t go by his house without him following behind it with his wheelbarrow, shovel and hoe. When a neighbor’s dog got the clip of the leash caught in his rear leg, it was Shad that was tasked with holding the dogs muzzle closed while the owner tried to remove the clip from the dog’s leg. That act of caring got Shad a trip to the emergency room for stitches from a dog bite. If you were from the neighborhood, and you needed a nut, bolt, screw, or piece of wood, you didn’t go to the hardware store, you went to Shads shed. If he didn’t have what you needed, then you would go to the hardware store. Shad’s shed was Home Depot, before Home Depot existed.
In his younger days Shad enjoyed deer hunting trips to Maine with his friends Bob and Cal Waldeck. He told stories of how the horses refused to pull the sleds if the sleds contained the successes of the hunt. In later years when he wasn’t able to hunt anymore, he’d travel with his brother Nat to Pennsylvania and stay with friends during deer hunting season. While everyone was out hunting, it was Shad’s responsibility to keep the house clean and keep it waaaaay too warm for those that were out hunting. He loved to keep the wood burning stove stoked! He also loved to cut down trees, chop and split wood.
Grass cutting and gardening were also a passion of Shad’s. His garden was his pride and joy. With his 3 brothers they continued the gardening tradition started by their father. Besides squash, egg plant, and string beans, his garden would produce bushels and bushels, of every type of tomato known to man. When he wasn’t harvesting his crops, he was busy on his hands and knees pulling weeds from in between the plants.
He was John Wayne’s biggest fan, and would watch “Duke” movies whenever he could. If a John Wayne movie wasn’t to be found, he would watch “Little Joey” and ”Horse” on Bonanza, along with all the rest of the afternoon westerns. In the evening he would settle in to watch his favorite game shows “Jefferdy” and “The Wheel”.
Shad also loved the $1.00 scratch off lottery tickets. Sometimes he won, but more fun was had just scratching off the tickets.
Shad was a parishioner of Holy Cross church in Mountain View, and for as many years as he was an usher at the 8am mass. He was also a member of the Little Falls Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
Shad is survived by his devoted and beloved brother Gregory (Hank) of Wayne. His two heartbroken nephews; Frank and Gregory of Wayne along with their wives Gillian and Laurie. He will also be missed by his three great nephews Timothy, Paul, and Robert. Shad is also survived by two nephews Anthony and his wife Debi, and Michael and his wife Susan both of Pennsylvania, and their children Nicole, Anne Marie, Joseph, Dawn, Melissa, and Matthew. Shad was predeceased by his two older brothers Natale (2002), Rocco (2003), and a nephew Frank R. Velardi in 2014.
The family would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Waldemar Silva for his dedication, guidance, and compassion in caring for Shad over his many years.
We also acknowledge and thank his caregiver Emma for all her hard work and untiring efforts over the last couple of years in assisting Shad with all his day to day activities. And Emma’s husband Mickey for his unselfishness in allowing Emma to dedicate so much of her time to Shad’s care over these last couple of months. THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!!!! You are both a Godsend!
Those wishing to make a donation in Carmen’s memory are asked to consider the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad. Donations should be made payable to the “Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad PO Box 291 Wayne, NJ 07474”.
If you would like to send a private condolence directly to the family use this condolence section.
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, December 30, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 31, 2016 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road Wayne, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.
Services
Friends may visit with the family at the Vander May Wayne Colonial Funeral Home, 567 Ratzer Road, Wayne, on Friday, December 30, 2016 from 2-4 and 7-9 PM.
Funeral Services will be held at 8:30 AM on Saturday, December 31, 2016 from the funeral home, then to Our Lady of the Valley Church, 630 Valley Road Wayne, where at 9:30 AM a Funeral Mass will be offered. Burial will follow at the Gates of Heaven Cemetery, East Hanover, NJ.
Carmen “Shad” Velardi, age 90 of Wayne, died peacefully on December 27, 2016 with his family at his bedside.
Shad, as he was known to his friends and family, was born in NYC and raised along with his 3 brothers in Wayne. Shad was the 3rd loving son of Frank and Fortunata Velardi. He was born on November the 22nd, 1926, and after 1963 whenever anyone asked him when his birthday was, he would respond “the day they shot Kennedy.”
He attended Wayne Schools never graduating. During the 40’s it was more important to go to work and earn a living to help support the family than it was to get an education. Prior to becoming employed by the Wayne Township DPW, Shad was employed by Anderson Engineering in Hawthorne, Ruffalo Construction in Singac, and Fabers Laundry in Haledon. Shad started his career at the Wayne DPW in the early 1950’s being one of only 6 DPW employees and retired after more than 30 years of dedicated service to the township and the citizens of Wayne. From his home on Ford Street Shad walked to work every day, in all kinds of weather, even all the way to Fabers in Haldeon. If friends saw him walking they would give him a ride, but most times he walked everywhere he went.
Shad loved the snow, and would shovel whenever he was healthy enough to do so. When he couldn’t shovel anymore, he would ride in the truck with his nephew Greg, and they would “go plowing”.
Shad was never married, and lived in the same house from the day he was born until his passing.
Shad was extremely strong, the first time he met his niece Gillian was at dinner at Frank’s mother’s house. Shad didn’t want to wait for his sister in-law Eleanor to get him a knife to cut his after dinner apple, so he just took the apple in between his big hands, and twisted it in half. Gillian was shocked! She had never seen or met anyone before who could twist an apple in half. For as strong as he was, he was just as gentle and kind. Shad was one of the most caring giving people to ever walk on God’s good earth. He would do anything, for anyone, any time. There was a time when a dump truck, or cement mixer couldn’t go by his house without him following behind it with his wheelbarrow, shovel and hoe. When a neighbor’s dog got the clip of the leash caught in his rear leg, it was Shad that was tasked with holding the dogs muzzle closed while the owner tried to remove the clip from the dog’s leg. That act of caring got Shad a trip to the emergency room for stitches from a dog bite. If you were from the neighborhood, and you needed a nut, bolt, screw, or piece of wood, you didn’t go to the hardware store, you went to Shads shed. If he didn’t have what you needed, then you would go to the hardware store. Shad’s shed was Home Depot, before Home Depot existed.
In his younger days Shad enjoyed deer hunting trips to Maine with his friends Bob and Cal Waldeck. He told stories of how the horses refused to pull the sleds if the sleds contained the successes of the hunt. In later years when he wasn’t able to hunt anymore, he’d travel with his brother Nat to Pennsylvania and stay with friends during deer hunting season. While everyone was out hunting, it was Shad’s responsibility to keep the house clean and keep it waaaaay too warm for those that were out hunting. He loved to keep the wood burning stove stoked! He also loved to cut down trees, chop and split wood.
Grass cutting and gardening were also a passion of Shad’s. His garden was his pride and joy. With his 3 brothers they continued the gardening tradition started by their father. Besides squash, egg plant, and string beans, his garden would produce bushels and bushels, of every type of tomato known to man. When he wasn’t harvesting his crops, he was busy on his hands and knees pulling weeds from in between the plants.
He was John Wayne’s biggest fan, and would watch “Duke” movies whenever he could. If a John Wayne movie wasn’t to be found, he would watch “Little Joey” and ”Horse” on Bonanza, along with all the rest of the afternoon westerns. In the evening he would settle in to watch his favorite game shows “Jefferdy” and “The Wheel”.
Shad also loved the $1.00 scratch off lottery tickets. Sometimes he won, but more fun was had just scratching off the tickets.
Shad was a parishioner of Holy Cross church in Mountain View, and for as many years as he was an usher at the 8am mass. He was also a member of the Little Falls Chapter of the Knights of Columbus.
Shad is survived by his devoted and beloved brother Gregory (Hank) of Wayne. His two heartbroken nephews; Frank and Gregory of Wayne along with their wives Gillian and Laurie. He will also be missed by his three great nephews Timothy, Paul, and Robert. Shad is also survived by two nephews Anthony and his wife Debi, and Michael and his wife Susan both of Pennsylvania, and their children Nicole, Anne Marie, Joseph, Dawn, Melissa, and Matthew. Shad was predeceased by his two older brothers Natale (2002), Rocco (2003), and a nephew Frank R. Velardi in 2014.
The family would like to thank and acknowledge Dr. Waldemar Silva for his dedication, guidance, and compassion in caring for Shad over his many years.
We also acknowledge and thank his caregiver Emma for all her hard work and untiring efforts over the last couple of years in assisting Shad with all his day to day activities. And Emma’s husband Mickey for his unselfishness in allowing Emma to dedicate so much of her time to Shad’s care over these last couple of months. THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU!!!! You are both a Godsend!
Those wishing to make a donation in Carmen’s memory are asked to consider the Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad. Donations should be made payable to the “Wayne Township Memorial First Aid Squad PO Box 291 Wayne, NJ 07474”.
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