Obituary of Edmund J. McGarrell

Age 87, of Elmira, passed away Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at his home, with his loving family by his side. Ed was a kind and caring man, and a devout Roman Catholic. He cherished life as a husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He loved his Catholic faith and was proud of his Irish heritage. A 1947 graduate of Elmira Free Academy, and the first graduation class of LeMoyne College in 1951, Ed held a B.S. in Industrial Relations. Ed was an Accredited Executive in Personnel (AEP) and considered his 42 years in the Personnel Profession with Corning Incorporated, as "the gift of a long satisfying career with a good company", working at the following Corning locations: Corning, NY Education Dept., Pressware Plant; Parkersburg, WV; Greenville, OH; Danville, VA; Muskogee, OK; Taipei, Taiwan; and Erwin, NY. Of his many professional accomplishments, he was most proud of his work in 1961 as the Personnel Manager for Corning's new plant in Danville, VA. At a time of racial strife across the country, he led efforts to ensure successful racial integration of the workforce, breaking with established community hiring practices. Ed credits advice he received from his friend and mentor, Francis O'Rourke for the accomplishment of this goal. O'Rourke was a Corning, Inc. plant IR Manager and former International Representative with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union, "IBEWU". Additionally, Ed held great pride that Corning, Inc. was awarded the Yoder-Heneman Creative Personnel Application Award in 1984 for the new employee orientation process developed by Ed and others in the HR and Corporate Communications divisions. Together with his grandparents, parents and sister, Ed considered himself fortunate to be amoung the founding members of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Ed and his wife Mary Lou shared a wonderful love for 60 years, extending their love to their family, church and community. Ed and Mary Lou were active members at Lourdes and in Social Ministries, Catholic Charities, and the Nocturnal Eucharistic Adoration Society. Additionally, Ed was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Msgr. John J. Lee Division, American Society for Training and Development, American Society for Personnel Administration, and retired founding member of the Human Resources Association of the Twin Tiers. Ed loved sports, particularly baseball. He was a loyal season ticket holder to the Elmira Pioneers and the consummate Boston Red Sox fan. Ed was predeceased by his parents, Edmund and Katherine (Leary) McGarrell, wife of 60 years, Mary Lou (Cox) McGarrell, and infant daughter, Colleen. Survivors include his children, and their spouses, Edmund Francis and Donna (Mengel) McGarrell, East Lansing, MI; Molly and Michael Brown, and Colleen and Leonard Mourhess, all of Corning; grandchildren, and their spouses, Corey Edmund and Amanda Jane McGarrell of Indiana, Erin Colleen and Richard Brian Hollingshead of Kentucky, Devon Marie and David Wiener of Pennsylvania, and Casey Nicole Rumbarger of North Carolina; great grandchildren, Marissa Jane and Tucker Edmund McGarrell, Richard Palmer Hollingshead; sister and brother-in-law Jean and Leo Klaes of Tennessee; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dorothy E. McInnis of Massachusetts, Frank J. and Rosalie Cox of Horseheads, Robert E. and Mary Cox of Maryland, and Eleanor J. Woodward of Connecticut; as well as many nieces and nephews. Ed was very appreciative of the many friends, neighbors, and church community who came to visit or read to him, brought him Holy Communion or baked goods, and prayed for him. Additionally, he so appreciated the home Healthcare Aides who took care of him for the many years following his stroke, including, Kelly Boots, Shekela Gilbert, Bobbi Jo Harrington, Tracy Kent, Penny Kessing, Lisa Michaels, Britney Potrzebowski, Gee Gee Russen, Pam Smith, Roy Stevens, LaShana Sutton, Rebel Watts, Diane Weaver, Bobbi Jo Woodruff, Erica Wright, Jean Zimmer, and Delores Hamilton. Friends are invited to McInerny Funeral Home, 502 W. Water Street, Elmira, on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. A prayer service will be held at the funeral home on Monday, March 13, 2017, 9:15 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial, 10:00 a.m., Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Interment, with committal prayers, will then take place at St. Peter & Paul's Cemetery. Charitable contributions to Christ the Redeemer Parish, 1010 Davis Street, Elmira NY 14901, Catholic Charities, 215 E. Church Street, Elmira NY 14901, Notre Dame High School 1400 Maple Avenue, Elmira NY 14904, CareFirst, 3805 Meads Creek Road, Painted Post NY 14870, Catholic Ministries Appeal, 1150 Buffalo Road, Rochester NY 14624, or St. Joseph's School of Nursing Alumni Association, 555 St. Joseph's Boulevard, Elmira NY 14901, are requested in lieu of flowers. A Thank You and a message from Ed McGarrell: This is my last chance to thank all of those who have helped me along the way – those who have kept me happy and healthy, and I hope, kept me Holy. First, to my wonderful wife of 60 years, who predeceased me, Mary Lou Cox, and all the Cox family. Next, my wonderful children and their families. Also, my co-workers at Corning, Inc. for 40+ years, my fellow parishioners at Christ the Redeemer Catholic Church, my classmates, teammates, neighbors, friends, relatives, and nurses' aides. All I can do is say THANK YOU for your help, support, correction, and guidance along life's way. May you know that I pray for you every day. Please accept my thanks, and pray for me. On the other side, I want to apologize and ask for forgiveness from any I have hurt, wounded, disappointed, ignored, or otherwise have hurt these past many years. I hope you will accept my apologies, and realize that many of these were completely unintentional. May God bless all of you and your families, and realize I have been praying for you. God Bless your families and their futures. All my love, Ed McGarrell