Edmund "Ed" Dery

Edmund (Ed) Dery of Tega Cay, SC passed peacefully in his home from natural causes on July 30, 2021 at the age of 94. Ed was born on November 7, 1926, as the son of Aldege and Leonie Robichaud Dery in New Britain, CT. He attended St. Mary’s School, New Hartford, CT, and graduated in 1944 from Gilbert High School, Winsted, CT. He joined the Army Air Force in 1945, and at the end of WWII, he re-enlisted to spend a year in Germany in the occupation force as an airplane mechanic and athletic instructor. He received an Associates Degree in Marketing at Hillyer Junior College, Hartford, CT, and later received a BS degree at the University of Hartford, CT. He worked as the office manager for the Dery Tool and Die Co., Pine Meadow, CT, then for the Torrington Needle Co. (later a division of Ingersoll-Rand Co), Torrington, CT as Project Engineer and General Foreman, semi-retiring in August 1981. He started a computerized Accounting & Tax Preparation Company out of his home in New Hartford, CT for another 21 years, until his final retirement in 2002. Ed kept up with technology remarkably well through the years from using a Web Cam to talk to his brother, Don, in 2000 to using FaceTime with his great grandchildren in 2021. His accounting skills served them well; they were blessed to be a blessing to others and were very generous and giving. Ed and Ellie were married in June 1951, and together they raised their children in New Hartford, CT. Edmund is survived by four children, Melina, married to James Marshall, Conway, SC; David Dery, New Hartford, CT; Leon Dery married to Laurie Marinan Dery, Avon, CT; and Marian, married to Sean Cronin, Fort Mill, SC; a sister-in-law, Joan Dery, Fredericksburg, VA; and a sister-in-law, Anne Maigret, Harwinton, CT; 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren with another on the way. Edmund was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He is predeceased by his wife Eleanor, who passed six months ago, four brothers, Roland, Raymond, Robert, and Donald; and a granddaughter, Heather Dery Hayes. Ed enjoyed hiking, traveling, skiing, square dancing and country western dancing. Ed and Ellie started downhill skiing while they were in their 60’s. They were fortunate to ski in the French Alps and the Colorado Rockies. They were blessed to travel to Europe, Canada, including staying in the home where Ed’s mother was born and raised, and to Hawaii and across the country. Ed and Ellie were part of their “club” group of about six couples with whom they vacationed and socialized in their homes monthly to play various card games, etc. for decades. He enjoyed playing cribbage until recently and remained as sharp and quick as ever. Ed taught himself to play several musical instruments such as the harmonica, guitar, ukulele, and mandolin. He was an avid reader and writer, publishing a few memoirs late in life. Ed had a great sense of humor and an extremely positive outlook on life. He lived and loved life to the fullest. He never met a stranger and was loved by many far and wide. In 2007, Ed and Ellie moved to Fort Mill, SC to and later to Wellmore of Tega Cay, SC, an assisted living facility, where they maintained a great degree of independence together and were also well cared for in their small apartment. Our family is extremely grateful to the wonderful caring staff of Wellmore and the friends they made in South Carolina. We are thankful for the care Hospice provided for our parents during the last days and months of their lives. We also thank Palmetto Funeral Home in Fort Mill, SC for their services. Edmund was a communicant of St Francis Church, Torrington, CT; The Immaculate Conception Church, New Hartford, CT; and St Philip Neri Catholic Church, Fort Mill, SC. There will be no memorial service in South Carolina. A Mass will be said in Edmund & Eleanor’s honor at St Philip Neri Catholic Church in Fort Mill, SC on Wednesday, August 18 at 9:30am. For those who are not able to attend, it will be posted on the website: saintphilipneri.org. Funeral and burial arrangements will be handled by the Montano-Shea Funeral Home, New Hartford, CT. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, September 17 at 10 am at Our Lady of Hope parish (formerly Immaculate Conception Church), New Hartford followed by a burial at Our Lady of Hope Cemetery, Town Hill Rd, New Hartford. Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to The Haitian Health Foundation, c/o Dr. Lowney, 97 Sherman St., Norwich, CT 06360.