| Date of Birth | November 20, 1921 |
| Date Deceased | December 23, 2008 |
| Hometown | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | December 29, 2008 |
| Service Time | 1 P.M. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell, N.Y. |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont, N.Y. |
GEORGE A. FAWCETT
HORNELL-George A. Fawcett, 87, a long time resident of the Hornell area, died Tuesday afternoon (Dec. 23, 2008) at McAuley Manor in North Hornell after a long illness.
Born in Canaseraga on Nov. 20, 1921, he was a son of the late Albert and Helen Pratt Fawcett. In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his three brothers, Art, Harry and Bill Fawcett; his sister, Esther Redmond; his son, Francis Frank Fawcett; his son-in-law, Stephen Terry and his nephew, Richard Dick Kelsey.
On July 7, 1945 in San Diego, Calif., he was married to the former Janice Meagher, who survives.
George graduated from high school in Canaseraga and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 8, 1941. He participated in the invasion of Gaudalcanal on Aug. 9, 1942 and eventually contracted a severe case of malaria and yellow jaundice. After a long hospitalization he served the remainder of his four year tour of duty at the Marine Corps Base in San Diego, Calif. before his honorable discharge in 1945.
After serving with the military he returned to the Hornell area and was employed nine years for the City of Hornell as a patrolman. In 1954 the Fawcett family purchased the Big Elms Restaurant and George served the Hornell community until his retirement in September of 1989. He later became the manager of the kitchen of the Hornell Knights of Columbus until his full retirement in 2002.
A communicant of St. Ignatius Loyola Church and St. Anns Church in Hornell, George was a Fourth degree member of the Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus, the Hornell Elks Lodge No. 364 and was also a charter member of the Fawcett Post of the American Legion in Canaseraga, which was named for his two brothers, Cpl. Harry Fawcett and Sgt. Art Fawcett who were killed in action during World War II.
In addition to his wife of 63 years, Janice, his family includes his three children, Arthur Charles Chuck (Christina) Fawcett of Las Vegas, Nev., Margaret Fawcett Terry (Mark VanDurme) of Hornell and George Michael Mike Fawcett of Rochester; his daughter-in-law, Laura Prete of Hornell; his five grandchildren, Christopher Fawcett (Erin OBrien), Shawn Fawcett, Holly Fawcett, Ryan Terry and Sean Terry; his three great-grandchildren; Aaron OBrien, Daylan Wetherbee and Keilly Fawcett; his sister-in-law, Lucille Fawcett; also his many nieces and nephews, including his three special nieces, Carol (George) Wellington, Mary Lou Fawcett and Joan (Bob) Dunn.
Calling hours are from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Sunday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet his family at St. Anns Church where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday. Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Marys Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either the Fawcett Post of the American Legion, W. Main St., Canaseraga, NY 14822 or to the Hornell High School Alumni Assoc., PO Box 135, Hornell, NY 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Holly and family:
I am so sorry for the loss of your Grandpa, dad and all who are related. George was such a great man. I loved him. My thoughts and prayers are with each and everyone of you at this most difficult time. Take care!
My sympathys to the entire Fawcett family. when I worked for him we affectionatly called him ” Papa George” because of his huge heart. It was a priviledge to be an employee of both george and janice. the memories are all good…thinking of you all.
Dear Fawcett Family,
I learned today of George’s passing. A long life with many adventures; and a man to always be remembered by me for the friendship and support shared by George and my Mother, Hazel Hill. Mom died in November 2003, so we know that she and George are having a banquet together this Christmas!
I did not know an address to contact any of you, so apologize for using a less personal medium to communicate to you that you are in my thoughts. I will pray for George’s soul as well as for Kieran. May you all have God’s peace in the New Year ahead.
It’s hard to believe that it was about 20 years ago that I worked at the Big Elms for George and Jan, it seems like yesterday. George was the sweetest and kindest boss I have ever had, and I consider myself lucky to have been part of the “Big Elms Family”. That’s how he made us all feel. I live in Atlanta now, but many of my fondest memories are of working at the Elms and with the Fawcett family. I send my love and warm wishes to all of them during this difficult time.
George always came to our table to say
Hi and considered George and his wife as friends. George was great to my Mom when she was with us for dinner. He made a cardboard reservation card for our table which said reserved for the old battleax as requested by Shirley and she was so excited she asked George if she could have the sign. Ofcourse he said okay. It made her day. She wanted to send it to her son.
Dear Margie and family, you have all been in our thoughts and prayers with the death of your dad/grandpa/husband. I have so many fond memories of your dad & mom at The Big Elms, which was such a long standing part of our Hornell community. My Gramma Brownie, mom, and her sisters would always take us to The Big Elms when my aunts came to visit Gramma. It was always a tradition and treat for my family to go to there. Too many wonderful and warm memories to share….all remembered fondly. And then I have to mention the fun times spent with my family and friends in the “Bar” once I was of legal age of course! Good times, good times indeed 🙂 The dedication, committment, and hard work that your dad, mom, and family put into that restaurant was always evident and still remembered. God’s peace to all of you and eternal rest and peace to your dad with your other loved ones in Heaven. God Bless. In Love & Friendship, Beth Ann
May you walk away in sunshine.
May you never want for more.
May Irish angels rest their wings right beside your door.
There might be no greater memory for me of growing up in Hornell than dinner at THE BIG ELMS, and the always cheerful face of George Fawcett. And the occiaisonal candy bar he would stick in my pocket. I always saw him working. When my grandmother would come in she would often order “creamed potatoes” that were not on the menu, but he made them for her. He embodies in my mind those of THE GREATEST GENERATION, who simply answered the call when our country needed them, then when they come home they lived life to the fullest. Rest in Peace
We wish to extend our heart-felt condolences to Jane Fawcett and family and pray for the eternal peace of the departed soul of George Fawcett. We cherish the memory as your friend and the friend of Kathy and Shyam Shrestha. We remember visiting Big Elms Restaurant and Happy New Year parties with your family. Hope Jane and family is doing fine. Hope to see you sometime soon.
So Long!
On behalf of my husband and myself I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the entire Fawcett Family. Jack worked for George at the Big Elms in the mid-1970s. We were just starting out and George helped us to build our credit by co-signing for our first car loan. We owe a lot of our success to George’s kindness and willingness to take a chance on us. Jack considers working at the Big Elms as one of the best experiences of his life. Even though we have not seen George in many years we miss him. Fawcett Family you are in our prayers may the blessing of God shower you with Love, Joy, and Peace.
our sympathy to the whole Fawcett Family and for the wonderful memories we have of dining at the Big Elms. God Bless you all