George Fedorczyk

George Fedorczyk, Sr., lover of all things Disney, American Patriot, Veteran, proud Husband, Father, Grandfather, Brother, Uncle, and Friend to all passed away at home on Monday September 24, 2024.
George is survived by his wife, Jo-Ann, of 51 years; his children, George (Renee), Thomas and Laura; his 5 granddaughters, Emma, Gianna, Angelina, Arianna, and Madelyn; his sister Joanne and his 2 brothers John and Alex; his bonus son Gregg as well as many loving cousins, nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Alex and Cecelia and siblings, Florence (Thomas), Steve (Angel), Ronald (Joyce), Robert (Linda) and Rosemarie (Carmine).

George was born in Hillside, New Jersey on October 5, 1949 to Alex and Cecelia Fedorczyk. He entered the U.S. Army at the age of 19 where he served 2 years. George was sent to serve in Vietnam where he proudly fought for his country. He then entered the Army National Guard where he served another 18 years proudly wearing the United States Army uniform. George was a proud veteran and American patriot who was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans as well as a member of the American Legion.

On September 22, 1973, George married his wife of 51 years, Jo-Ann, whom he lovingly nicknamed Wilma and she lovingly nicknamed him Fred. Together they had three children who were the most important part of his life.

George was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend. Family was the most important thing to George. He took great pride in researching genealogy and sharing all he learned with his family.  If you met George for 5 minutes or knew him for 45 years you can bet, he would remember your name, learn some history about you and consider you family from the start. If you stepped foot in his home once, you bet you could then be considered family, handed a beverage (in his case a Budweiser preferred), some food to fill you and laughs that would make your belly hurt. George was known for his light hearted humor where you never knew what kind of costume he would come out with next. He once dressed up as a Disney princess, a gangster, Charlie Chaplan, an Indian, and a gorilla; that one almost got him in a lot of trouble, among many more to make a room laugh. If a microphone was in his reach, you can bet George would take advantage of that moment and make a speech that would make you both laugh and cry. When family saw a microphone in his hand you would see the room shaking their heads and verbally hear "there he goes again" throughout the room.

When George was not involved with a family event, roaming the aisles of Home Depot, landscaping his yard, struggling to keep the pool clear (the pool to George was like Christmas lights to Clark Griswald), or driving Wilma crazy you could find him in his shed, referred to as 9 1/2 Anchor Road, where he would be what he called tinkering. He was an amazing wood worker and craftsman where he would make many projects such as wooden cradles, and refinishing furniture. He was most known for his beautiful rocking horses that he proudly made and it brought him great joy to gift to his granddaughters, several other family members, and friends. One even made it across the oceans to Ireland. He took such pride in his rocking horses that every inch was made with his hands right down to the horse's mane. He would sit for hours at a time and weave the horse's mane with tedious perfection.  Every inch of his rocking horse was made with love.

George was a Disney Vacation Club member for over 20 years where he and his wife loved to take month long visits and various other visits throughout the year at Disney’s Old Key West Resort.  George’s vibrant personality soon got him named the “Mayor of Old Key West.”  He enjoyed nothing more than sitting in the “Mayor’s chair” at the Gurgling Suitcase where he would chat up anyone who walked up to the bar and within five minutes of your conversation, he would be buying you a drink and making plans for another meet up.  Throughout the years George made so many friends and many became lifelong friends who he cared so deeply about.  Up until his last days George spoke of wanting to go back to Old Key West one more time to see all he loved. 

George lived in his home with his wife for over 50 years.  He was a staple of the neighborhood where he became the street dad to everyone.  In his younger years, he gave off this persona of this hard, loud, sometimes mean man that might yell at you if you stepped on his lawn.  The neighborhood kids would at times keep a distance, especially due to his colorful language and presence in his military uniform.  As the neighborhood kids grew, they quickly learned this “mean man” was truly just hard looking on the exterior with a soft goofy man inside that loved to laugh, have a good time and always lend a hand when needed.  To his dying day he felt like the neighborhood kids were his own and worried about each one of them.

George had a love for snow.  Not quite the love to play in the snow, although he was known for building igloos and snowmen for his children and grandchildren, but to remove the snow.  When snow was on the ground, he would be so excited to shovel, as he grew older and less physically able, it turned into a snowblower.  George would leave the house in the early morning hours and throughout a snow storm and clean up what seemed like the entire street!  If he knew someone local could not remove their snow or struggled for any reason to do so, he would load his snowblower up in his truck and take care of it for them.  He never asked for anything in return, because he truly loved to simply help people.  He was a humble man who believed in doing for others and never asked for anything in return.

Memorial Gathering will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Barnegat Funeral Home, 841 West Bay Ave., Barnegat, NJ. A heavenly 75th birthday celebration of life will follow at the American Legion, Post 232, 499 N Main Street, Barnegat, NJ following services.  All are welcome to come celebrate as George would have wanted. (www.BarnegatFH.com)

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in George’s memory to the American Legion, post 232, 499 N Main Street, Barnegat, NJ, 08005.

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