George E. MacKoul

Every life is a story. Every story needs to be told. George E. MacKoul, 91 of Shrewsbury, known to those who loved him as “Giddo” or “ Mr. Magoo” passed away peacefully on Monday, April 4, 2016 at Notre Dame Rehabilitation Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. George lived this life the way he departed this life, measuring it by the wealth of family and friends that came to say “goodbye”. He said goodbye with a smile and a grateful heart, repeatedly reminding all of us how “blessed he was to have such a wonderful family and friends”. He had a number of “Giddoisms” that defined his character, which he passed on to those who loved him. One of his favorites was: “Many hands help the harvest”, which had a deeper meaning that went beyond the words of that particular statement. He was a unifier, a compromiser, a peacemaker, a diplomat and most of all a gentleman. He listened more than he spoke, and “if he did not have something good to say about someone” he said nothing at all. He saw the good in everyone and was the first to point it out. George’s best friend was his wife Jeannette, who he met 69 years ago, and was married to just shy of their 59th wedding anniversary. Together they were blessed with four children and nine grandchildren. Spending time with his family was the “tending of his garden”. Together, George and Jeannette tilled, turned, weeded, and watered the souls of their family members teaching them the values of generosity, responsibility and a strong work ethic. He loved her and she loved him, with a love that was deeply rooted in a commitment and understanding that the weather of marriage was not always going to be “bright and sunny”, or predictable and that the sacrifices of the “one” beget the grace of many. George appreciated the uniqueness of each of his children and treated each of them equally as no one plant in his garden deserved any special preference over any other. He taught us to be loyal to one another, and made each of us feel that we “were the first among equals”. He made us promise to “take care of one another”, something he needed to say, but was already rooted in each of our souls. George’s work life was similar to his family life. Prior to his retirement he was a co-owner of a large and very successful food service distribution business. And work hard he did, leaving his home at 4 a.m. each morning and coming home after sunset. Like his own children he treated his employees like family. Often times we heard employees say, “I love your Dad”, as George’s love was demonstrated by his humility in and around the workplace. He would often be seen working side by side with those who labored the most, sometimes in difficult circumstances, shunning the limelight of administrative tasks, preferring the joy of the “many hands” working as one, to get the job done. In his private life of family and friends, his reach was vast and generous. Always cooking and feeding anyone who dropped by- happened to be there or spontaneously igniting a gathering for no particular reason at all but that of “love”. Love of family and friends, love of his Lebanese heritage, and that of his faith and love of God. His life harvested life long friendships of his children’s friends, his grandchildren’s friends, as well as neighbors and people in his church community. George was a devoted member of St. George’s Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester Mass. He attended the church since he was a child, being active on the board of director at various times since the 1950’s. He was most notably known for his participation in the “Kitchen Crew” at the church where he along with other devoted men, worked tireless weekends and weeknights, preparing and cooking for large church functions. He was also an active participant in the Cathedral’s 100th Anniversary Celebration where he appeared as a commentator on a video about the Church’s history and contributions to the Worcester community. In his final days, despite the tears he watched others shed, he continued to talk about family and what was really important. He taught us all that we were part of something greater than ourselves. He taught us all that we were all connected as one, in the one that created us all. He taught us that we were all like the Pachysandra Plant, which grows and connects underground through its “roots”, despite looking like individual plants on the surface. Finally, after George departed this life, he taught us the most important lesson of all, which is this: “It is not until someone dies that they truly become a part of us”. George Elias MacKoul’s is now part of us all. George is survived by his beloved wife, Jeannette (Skaff) MacKoul; a daughter, Vanessa M. Padavano and her husband Joseph J. Padavano of Shrewsbury; three sons, George J. MacKoul and his wife Greta C. MacKoul of Mashpee, Matthew M. MacKoul and his wife Judith A. Carpentier of Reading, MA., and Gary M. MacKoul of Shrewsbury; a brother, Albert P. MacKoul of West Dennis, MA.; nine grandchildren, Alexa and her husband Alex, Gianna and her husband Adam, Claire, Corey, Joseph, Molly, Maxwell, Grace and Marysa; many nieces and nephews. A brother, Raymond J. MacKoul and four sisters, Eva Sawayer, Eleanor Walker, Virginia Mariani and Pauline Debs all predeceased him. George was born and raised in Worcester, a son of the late Lebanese immigrants, Joseph and Mary (Haddad) MacKoul. He moved to Shrewsbury in 1967 and has lived there for the past 49 years.   George graduated from North High School, Class of 1942 and he later received his Bachelors of Science in Biology from Boston University, Class of 1946. He was the co-owner of R. J. MacKoul Food Service Distributor from 1949 to 1996 when he retired. George and his wife owned a summer home in South Dennis, on Cape Cod. They spent many summers gathering with friends and family at their summer home on Holly Street.  Relatives and friends are invited to visit with the family on Thursday, April 7th from 4-7 p.m. at the MERCADANTE FUNERAL HOME & CHAPEL, 370 Plantation St., Worcester.  A Trisagion service will be held on Thursday evening at 6 p.m. Services for George will be held on Friday, April 8, from the funeral home with a funeral service at 10 a.m. in Saint George Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Anna St., Worcester.  Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Saint George Orthodox Cathedral, 30 Anna St., Worcester, MA. 01604.  To share your thoughts, memories or prayers with George’s family, please visit his personal guestbook at ww.mercadantefuneral.com.