Shirley Waldeck

Shirley Waldeck (nee Schilling), age 91, formerly of Wayne passed away peacefully on June 15, 2020 surrounded by her loving family.

Shirley was born and raised in Riverdale, NJ and was one of three children to Arthur and Mabel Schilling.  While growing up in Riverdale, Shirley’s parents introduced her to music and had her take piano lessons.  Later as a young lady, Shirley gave piano lessons to the local kids and adults in her neighborhood and frequently played the organ in church.  Shirley attended Pompton Lakes High School and while a student there she met a handsome young man by the name of Richard Calvin Waldeck known to his friends as “Cal”.  Shirley and Cal started dating and became high school sweethearts.  While in high school, Shirley accepted a position at Bloomingdale Bank where she was employed as a secretary.  As fate would have it, Shirley and Cal fell in love and a few years after graduating from Pompton Lakes High School, they became husband and wife.  A few years later, Cal and Shirley started their family and moved to Wayne.  While living in Wayne, they welcomed the births of their three children, Richard, David and Cheryl Ann.

Not long after they started their family, Shirley decided to become a full time homemaker.  This was truly Shirley’s calling and where she flourished.  Shirley was a devoted mom and was always there for her children.  Later, as her children got older, Shirley went back to work as a secretary at Jordan Bus Company where her husband Cal worked at the time.  Shirley held this position until her retirement.  Cal and Shirley remained in Wayne until 2004 when they moved to Washington, NJ to be close to their daughter Cheryl and their grandchildren.  Shirley and Cal cherished fifty five years of loving and loyal marriage until Cal’s passing in March of 2005.

Shirley was a lifetime member of the Pompton Reformed Church in Pompton Lakes.  She was also a member of the Eastern Star since she was eighteen years old.  Later, Shirley attended Annandale Reformed Church where she was an active member of the Lady's Society and a devoted and respected member of her weekly bible study group.  Aside from all of Shirley’s talents, hobbies, and interests, her greatest passion was her family.  Nothing in the world meant more to Shirley than providing for, and spending time with her children and grandchildren.  She was often heard to say her favorite bible verse, Matthew 6:21, “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" referred to her grandchildren.  Shirley was feisty, outgoing yet shy, compassionate, kind, and spiritual.  She touched the lives of many people and will be missed by everyone that knew her.

Shirley is survived by her daughter Cheryl Mulligan and her husband Robert Wilson of Hampton, NJ, David Waldeck and his wife Nancy of Sauquoit, NY, four grandchildren, Ryan Mulligan, Kevin Mulligan, Kyle Waldeck and Sara Waldeck.  She was predeceased by her husband Cal Waldeck in 2005, her son Richard Waldeck in 1989, and her two brothers Richard Schilling and Arthur Schilling.