Elta I. (Shaw) Craig, long time resident of East Hartford departed this life on Wednesday, September 5, 2007. Born in Coldstream, New Brunswick, Canada on May 3, 1925, she was the oldest of six children born to Wilmot and Haddie (Swim) Shaw. She was raised in Juniper, New Brunswick, graduated from Fredrickton Teachers College in 1945, married Ervin D. Craig on February 8, 1946 and became a US citizen in 1951. After her retirement from Traveler's Insurance in 1984, she enjoyed spending her time traveling, reading, knitting and teaching others to knit and crochet. Always a teacher at heart, she spent many hours volunteering to teach young people to read. It gave her such a feeling of accomplishment. Above all else, her first love was always her family. She is survived by her loving husband of 61 years, Ervin D. Craig, her four sons; Major Donald W. Craig (USAF, Ret) and his wife Dorlane of West Gardiner, ME, David W. Craig and his wife Debra of Newington, Deane W. Craig and his fiancée Cathie Gagne of East Hartford, Dwight W. Craig and his wife Cyndi of Broad Brook, her cherished grandchildren; Andrew Craig of Littleton, NH, Brian Craig and his wife Joanne of Baldwinsville, NY, Elizabeth Craig of Newington, Madeleine Craig, Morgan Craig and Mason Craig of Broad Brook, her beloved great grandchildren; Alexander Craig and Alaina Craig of Baldwinsville, NY, her dear and loving friend Lorraine Craig of Manchester, her loving brothers Duane Shaw of Juniper, NB and Raymond Shaw of Calgary, AB. She was predeceased by her brothers Melbourne Shaw and Burton Shaw of Juniper, NB and her sister Daphene Shaw of Halifax, NS. Funeral service will be held on Monday at 10 am at South Congregational Church 1301 Forbes St. East Hartford. Burial will follow in Silver Lane Cemetery. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home 219 West Center St. Manchester, on Sunday from 3-7 pm. Memorial donations may be made to the ECHN Community Healthcare Foundation Hospice Program 71 Haynes St. Manchester, CT 06040-4131 or to The Arthritis Foundation, Southern New England Chapter, 35 Cold Spring Road Suite 411 Rocky Hill, CT 06067. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.