KENT, Conn.—Edith “Edie” K. Ackerman, 87, passed away on June 6, 2026, in Danbury at Regional Hospice & Home Care. Edie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She was born in Waterbury, daughter to the late Theodore Ambrose and Edith Mae (Payne) Knapp. She grew up in Thomaston, prior to the family moving to Kent at the age of 16. She worked at the Kent Milk Bar for her father for many years.
After meeting Donald Ackerman, they started their lives together, becoming parents and business owners. They were former owners of the Kent Laundromat, she did some work as a seamstress making curtains and later moved into banking, spending years as a customer service representative and bank teller at the National Bank of Litchfield.
She was active in the community as a Cub Scout leader and a CCD teacher. Edie became a lover of birds when she inherited caring for the pigeons from her son. Her children shared the fact that she also served with the Kent Fire Volunteer Department and that under no circumstance was anyone to use the “red phone” that was on the wall in their house growing up.
She took the responsibility as a dispatcher very seriously, which showed just how much Edie truly cared for the safety and well-being of others in and around her community.
She is missed by her children, Teresa Ackerman Lechner of New Milford, Donald Ackerman Jr. (Dawn) of Massachusetts, Brian Ackerman (Karen) of Kent, Dean Ackerman (Leslie) of Warren, her loving grandchildren Jennifer Ackerman (Austin Harding), Brittney Holmes (Jacob), Jonathan Ackerman (Yoona), Lissie Ackerman, Erica Ackerman, Megan Ackerman, Kasey Ackerman and fiancé Jake Little, and Chloe Ackerman. She is also survived by a sister, Linda DeLong and brother, Richard Knapp.
Edie was predeceased by her husband Donald Ackerman Sr.; siblings, Theodore Knapp, Robert Knapp, Joan Scully, George Knapp, Janice Barberi, and James Knapp. She was also predeceased by her son-in-law, Frederick Lechner.
A funeral mass was held at Sacred Heart Church in Kent. Burial followed in the Kent Congregational Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the Kent Ambulance, 28 Maple St. Kent, Conn. 06757 and/or to Danbury Regional Hospice, 30 Milestone Road Danbury, CT 06810.
