Edith Carolyn Schaaf

Her life journey complete, Edith Carolyn Schaaf died peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on June 14, 2026. She was a much-loved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Edith was born on March 6,1936, and raised in Akron, Ohio, to parents Robert and Catherine Milla Gardiner. After graduating from St. Mary's High School in 1954, she worked for Ohio Edison until joining her new husband and high school sweetheart, Robert Michael Schaaf, in Germany, where he was serving with the U.S. Army. Their first child, Margaret, was born to them while deployed in Germany.

Returning to Akron after Robert’s service, they welcomed 5 more wonderful children. Seeking new opportunities, Robert and Edith moved to Florida in 1969. Throughout her children’s school years, Edith was an attentive stay at home Mom, which kept her very busy. As her children grew older, Edith began working part-time for major department stores such as Richard’s and Penny’s. Eventually she joined Eastern Airlines as a purchasing agent, where husband Robert was employed, serving until the airline closed in 1991. Edith loved gardening and enjoyed watching her flowers bloom. She loved nature and was thrilled to see a Bald Eagle and later a flock of Sandhill Cranes soar overhead. The 2017 total solar eclipse was a special addition to her bucket list. Always interested in science, she became particularly entranced by the realities of our universe and the formation of our Earth and galaxy.

As an animal lover, she was always adopting beloved dogs and cats from shelters and sometimes even picking them up as strays. She out-lived a dozen well-loved cats and dogs, regretting each one’s passing. Edith’s leisure time was filled with puzzles, books, and an obsessive interest in genealogy. Edith loved her life as wife and mother. Each child was a unique and cherished gift, each with their own special talents and differing personalities. Edith felt proud of the turns her children have taken. Each is honest, ethical, and wonderful family members. Life with her family, as she has said, was always filled, surprising, a blast, fun, exasperating, loving, and she’d do it all again.

Edith was predeceased by her spouse of 62 years, Robert, eldest daughter Margaret (Peggy) Thomas, her parents Robert and Catherine, and brother Robert. She is survived by 5 children: Diane Marie Schaaf, Laurie Ann (Charles) Black, Mary Louise (William) Romano, Robert Gerard (Melissa) Schaaf, and Karen Marie Schaaf. Survived also by 10 grandchildren: Lauren Alexis Thomas, Catherine Schaaf, Elizabeth Crawley and brothers Sean and Stephen Black, Christopher Romano and sister Danielle Thie, Margaret and Alexander Schaaf, and Stefanie Zubrick Adams. Survived also by 5 great-grandchildren: Jensen Trombetta, Kira Schaaf, Dawson and Brody Crawley, and Violet Romano. She is also survived by 3 sisters: Barbara Majdanik, Marilyn Argenio, and Kathy Gary, plus numerous nieces and nephews.

Edith has chosen cremation, with her ashes to be interred with her husband’s at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled at a later date. Cochran-McDaniel Funeral Home has been honored to offer their services. In lieu of flowers donations in Edith Schaaf’s memory should be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.