Obituary of Edward W. Cooke

Edward Wayne Cooke, a lifelong Madison resident, passed away at home on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at the age of 73.

Ed is survived by his beloved wife of 43 years, Carmela (Mela) Cooke (née Fondaco); his two daughters, Luciann Cooke and her husband, William McSherry & Jacklyn Miuccio and her husband, Thomas Miuccio; one brother, Theodore Cooke; four grandchildren that were the light of his life, Bella, Molly, Max and Lucia; several nieces & nephews; and many, many dear friends.  In addition to his parents, Ed was predeceased by one brother, John Cooke.

Ed was born in Summit on May 4, 1948. He spent the first years of his childhood in Springfield before the family relocated to the Orchard section of Madison where he and his brothers were raised.

Ed owned and operated Ed Cooke Trucking for many years before retiring.  As a part-time job in his retirement, Ed worked as a crossing guard in Madison on the corner of Ridgedale Avenue and Walnut Street. The kids that he crossed all loved him, always showering him with gifts on various holidays. 

 Ed was an outdoorsman at heart. He loved being outside, hunting and fishing, and was a man who enjoyed taking a hands-on approach to life. Ed was a proud and devoted father who loved his grandchildren more than anything. Family was everything to Ed.

Ed loved gambling and taking trips to Las Vegas and other local casinos. He regularly played the lottery and loved Three Card Poker and Let It Ride. Ed was a familiar and friendly face at the Madison Quick Chek, and then the Whippany Quick Chek when he and his wife moved to Parsippany.

Ed had an excellent cooking talent, and was especially known for his homemade pizza.  Picking wild mushrooms and sharing them with friends, was another one of his favorite pastimes, and he went to his grave being the only one knowing where to find the really great “big ones”.

Ed always had a joke, loved to make people laugh, and no one was a stranger to him. He selflessly served family, friends and complete strangers with his time, talent, generosity, strong handshake and warm smile. His home was always open to everyone.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation on Saturday, April 9, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison. A service in celebration of Ed’s life will be held at 3:00PM at the funeral home.  

For those that wish, you may attend Ed’s service virtually by visiting https://vimeo.com/696168962 at 3:00PM on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions in Ed’s memory can be made to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), New Jersey Chapter at afsp.org/inmemoryof/

A proud man with a big heart, Ed will be missed and loved forever by us all.