| Date of Birth | February 1, 1929 |
| Date Deceased | March 4, 2008 |
| Hometown | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | March 6, 2008 |
| Service Time | 8:00 PM |
| Service Location | Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery |
CHARLES EDWARD “EDDIE” GILLETTE
HORNELL-Charles Edward “Eddie” Gillette, 79, of 2 East Main St., passed away Tuesday morning (March 4, 2008) at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Bath, after a long illness.
Born in Springfield, Mass. on Feb. 1, 1929, he was the son of the late William and Marie Hartwick Gillette. He was married to the former Marilyn Fisher, who predeceased him on Jan. 18, 2003, after 48 years of marriage. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his sister, Dorothy Gillette.
A resident of Hornell for most of his life, Eddie graduated from Hornell High School with the class of 1946 and served with the U.S. Army from 1950 until his honorable discharge in 1952. From 1952 to 1956 he was a member of the Army Reserve.
Before his retirement he was employed as purchasing agent for the Morrison-Knudsen Co. in Hornell.
Eddie was a member of the United Presbyterian Church in Hornell and served as the Sunday School Basketball coach for the church for more than 20 years. He also coached for the Hornell Grasshoppers for about 15 years.
A member of the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 in Hornell for more than 50 years, he was also a 32nd. degree Mason.
His family includes his four sons, Jeffrey (Faye) Gillette, Andrew (Cheri) Gillette and Thomas (Debbie) Gillette all of Rochester and Stephen (Angie) Gillette of Hornell; his daughter, Ellen (Michael) Ramirez of Hornell; his 16 grandchildren; his sister, Loranca (Thomas) Padgett of Elmira; also his nieces, nephews and his devoted caregivers, Brenda Fronk and Linda Burdett.
Calling hours are from 5-8 p.m. Thursday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell, where a funeral service, with military honors, will be held following calling hours at 8 p.m. Thursday, with the Rev. David Kilgore officiating. Private committal services and interment will be held at the convenience of his family at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to the Bath V.A. Palliative Care Dept., V.A. Medical Center, Bath, NY 14810. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Dear Ellen, Mike & kids:
Sorry for the loss of your father. Your parents were great people. I know that they loved you and your children to pieces.
I loved your Dad. He was so special and a big part of what has made this country so great today. You are a lovely family which is another tribute to your Mom and Dad. I can only imagine the great reunion and gaiety that Ed and Joe Tracy are now having!!!
I am sorry to hear about the passing of your Dad, Eddie. We had the best time as coworkers at GE in the 70’s. We all had such fun together, Eddie made going to work FUN. Joe Tracy, Joe Himler, Bob McNelis, and myself. What lovely people. I truely loved your Dad! God Bless Him.
To the entire Gillette family: I can harldy express how much your father meant to me as we all grew up next door to each other. From the rides to Canisteo on the tailgate of your stationwagon to Sunday School Basketball to Little League and Biddy basketball. Your Dad was always there. A great many evenings he and your mother were over to our house. Growing up in Hornell we were blessed to have your Dad’s influence. I’m very sorry that he’s gone and that I hadn’t had the chance to see him recently.
I just heard about your loss, and I am so sorry. Your family plays a big part in my childhood memories, and I always thought your parents were great people. My condolences to you all.
thank you to everyone that took time to leave a message.we spent the good part of the week remembering as you all have.it wasnt hard thinking of good times good friends and neighborhood memories.we were blessed to have had role model in our home our entire life.
hornell lost a good man a loving father and a truely honest member of the community.he will be missed but never forgotten
Dear Jeff, Andy, Tom, Ellen and Steve,
I am sorry to hear about your dad. He was terrific – strict but loving and pretty funny, even to a kid. He and your mom were a great couple. I have many fond memories of growing up with your family in our wonderful neighborhood. You were my first real babysitting job (and boy, were you a handful!). Your dad always walked me home after babysitting because he wouldn’t allow me to walk down Florence St. alone(a mere two houses away). I also remember lots of laughter when our parents got together. I know you miss him but you have so many great memories to share that will keep him with you always.
To the Gillette’s-
I’m so sorry to hear of the your Dad’s passing. I have so many great memories of growing up in our Florence Street neighborhood, before you guys made the big move to East Main St. Your Dad was a wonderful man. I’ll always remember his big laugh, your mom and dad coming to my parent’s house for different occasions, him coaching Sunday School Ball (especially when I was a ref- he’d give me an earful pretty much every week!). I remember after you guys had been at 2 East Main Street for a few years and he’d come out and put up the flag and sit out there in the summertime – my mom looking out our kitchen window and commenting about how much your Dad just loved his house and that yard. There are so many great memories of those times. Although you will all miss him- try to think of those wonderful times you were able to have with him. He will truly be missed.