Margaret "Peggy" Shaker

Margaret "Peggy" Shaker was born on November 2, 1928, in Fostoria, Ohio, to Richard and Alice (Elum) Abowd. Of proud Lebanese descent, her parents owned and operated the New Ohio Hotel in Fostoria. Alice lovingly raised their seven children while Richard managed the family business. The Abowd family was known for their industrious spirit, and all seven children went on to earn college degrees and pursue distinguished careers.

Peggy graduated from St Wendelin High School and earned a degree in dietetics from Marygrove College in Detroit, Michigan. She continued her studies at the University of Michigan and worked as the Assistant Director in the Department of Dietetics at the University of Michigan Hospital. During that time, she researched and published one of the first books of low gluten recipes that she went on to discuss at the World Congress of Gastroenterologists in Washington DC. Dedicated and compassionate, Peggy made a meaningful difference in the lives of those she served.

On February 13, 1960, Peggy married Simon Isaac Shaker, a respected businessman who co-owned the Shaker Store in Niles, Ohio, and later founded his own accounting firm. The couple shared a happy life together and were well-loved in their community. Peggy devoted herself to raising their four children—Paul, Tina, Mark, and Ellen—while remaining active in community and volunteer work.

A woman of many talents, Peggy volunteered at Trumbull Memorial Hospital and was a member of the hospital’s Women’s Auxiliary and a founding member of Junior New Century. She was also a devoted parishioner of St. Stephen Catholic Church in Niles, Ohio and St Luke Catholic Church in Beavercreek, Ohio. Peggy also contributed her time to St. Vincent de Paul. Her interests included knitting, sewing, gardening and cooking, and she was especially known for her exquisite needlework. Her entrepreneurial spirit was expressed by creating Everlastings by Peggy showcasing handcrafted angels that she designed from vintage linens.

Peggy was preceded in death by her loving husband Simon Isaac Shaker; siblings Richard Abowd Jr. (Sara), Philip Abowd (Virginia), and Maryalice Abood (Camille); her brothers-in-law Theodore Saker, Mitchell Shaker (Mary), Joseph Shaker (Helen); and sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Abowd and Josephine Stets. She is survived by her siblings Patricia Saker; Dr. Thomas Abowd (Anne Marie); and George Abowd and many beloved nieces and nephews.

She leaves behind a loving family: her children Paul Shaker, Christine “Tina” Shaker Hogan (Tim), Mark Shaker (Martha), and Ellen Shaker Hildenbrand (Lenny). Her grandchildren include Genevieve Shaker (Mike Paredes), Lee Shaker (Brittni), Kathryn Hogan Haas (Greg), and Mark Hogan (Michaela), Sophia Shaker and Simon Hildenbrand. Peggy was also blessed with great-grandchildren: Kai Paredes, Nora Haas, Jack Hogan, Audrey Hogan, Faris Shaker, and Phoebe Shaker.

The Shaker family would like to express its profound gratitude to Peggy’s caregivers from Fidelity Healthcare who provided her such devoted care, and to Hospice of Dayton.

A Mass of Christian burial will be on Thursday May 22, 2025 at St Luke’s Church, 1440 N Fairfield Rd. Beavercreek Ohio at 12:00PM with calling hours from 10:00am – 12:00pm at the church. Private interment will be in Niles City Cemetery, Niles, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers please consider a gift to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society https://diy.lls.org/fundraiser/6380446

Or to Miami Valley Hospital Foundation, Fidelity Healthcare Homecare Aide Recognition Fund, in memory of Margaret M. Shaker. http://www.mvhfoundation.org/donate-now/

The family is being served by Routsong Funeral Home in Dayton Ohio, and Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home in Niles, Ohio.