Obituary of Matthias Francis Fennell, Sr.

Age 92, formerly of Elmira, N.Y., died peacefully December 4, 2020 at his El Paso, Texas, home surrounded by loving and devoted family. An Elmira native, Fennell was the son of Matthias and Catherine (Shields) Fennell. His family was a member of Ss. Peter & Paul Roman Catholic parish. He attended Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic School and Elmira Catholic High School, then served with the U.S. Army in Japan, attaining the rank of Corporal. He graduated from the University of Scranton in 1952 and worked for Westinghouse Electric Corporation, eventually managing its Horseheads, N.Y., manufacturing facility. In 1977, Fennell moved with his wife, Ann (McLaughlin), and their 10 children to El Paso, where he opened the corporation’s first assembly plant, Componentes de Iluminacion, in Juarez, Mexico. In that role, he became a trusted advisor to young managers, engineers, and fellow Juarez plant managers until his retirement in 1994. Fennell was a man of strong faith, devoted to his church, his family. He and Ann were married for 64 years. Through his life, Fennell amassed a wide and multigenerational circle of friends with whom he shared his love of books, music, and sports, especially golf and the New York Giants. Fennell had a life-long passion for Ireland, his father’s birthplace. In Elmira, he was active in the Catholic school system and the Knights of Columbus. Fennell was the last living charter member of the Msgr. John J. Lee Division Ancient Order of Hibernians, based in Elmira. Today, the chapter endures with more than 400 members. While Fennell lived in El Paso for more than 40 years, his attachment to Elmira never waned. When his children were still young, he would pilot the family station wagon across country each summer to visit family and friends. In addition to his wife, Fennell is survived by their children, Ann Simmons of El Paso; Molly (Bill) Manchenton of Lowell, Mass.; Matt Jr. (Carla) of Plano, Texas; Julie (David) Smykowski of Elmhurst, Ill.; Sheila (Frank) Castellano of Colorado Springs, Colo.; Tim (Alicia), Kate Carlson, Terrence (Adriana), and Ellen (Raul) Ordaz, all of El Paso; and Alice (Aksorn) Hongthong of Malverne, N.Y. Also, a brother, J. Peter Fennell, and sister Kathleen “Sis” Fennell, both of Elmira, and 17 grandchildren. Also, in-laws Maynard and Marilyn McLaughlin of Shoreham, Vt.; Sheila Reeder of Quakerstown, N.J., Richard Bassney of Rochester, N.Y., and Elizabeth Dolan of Sayre, Pa., as well as dear friends Albert Beckman of Santa Teresa N.M., and David and Hannah D’Ottavio of El Paso and Casey Key, Fla. Preceding him in death are his son-in-law, Billy Simmons, and in-laws Susan Fennell, Daniel and Cathy McLaughlin, Richard Reeder, Catherine Bassney, Alice McLaughlin, and James Dolan. Contributions in his memory can be made to Notre Dame High School, 1400 Maple Avenue, Elmira, NY 14904.