George Senior

George was the third of 6 children of Oliver and Lillian Senior of Port Elizabeth, Placentia Bay. After Grade 11, he attended summer school at Memorial University and then moved to Hickman’s Harbour, Random Island, to begin his teaching career. Here he met Dorothy Penney and they were married on April 5, 1958.

George’s career as a teacher and principal took them to Pool’s Cove, Wandsworth, Herring Neck, Dunville and Bishop’s Falls, as well as St. John’s to pursue his university education. He earned his B.Ed. and later, his M.Ed. In 1973, they moved to Marystown and later Burin, where he worked as an Assistant Superintendent and later Superintendent with the Burin Peninsula Integrated School Board. He was heavily involved with the United Church and active in municipal politics, serving as Mayor of Burin. After he retired, they moved to St. John’s in 1989.

George and Dorothy had 3 children – Kathy, Keith and Michelle. Education was important to them, and they made sacrifices to ensure their children had a good foundation on which to build their own lives. They loved spending time with their 5 granddaughters. Sadly, their youngest daughter Michelle passed away in 2011.

George and Dorothy did everything together. They enjoyed camping and hosting turkey dinners for family celebrations and other occasions. After his retirement, they started bowling several times a week and enjoyed the walking trails in the city. George always loved to read and in his later years, he loved to read his many joke books out loud to anyone who would listen. There was one joke he particularly loved, but only the first part, which he always read with a big smile:
A genie granted me one wish, so I said, “I just want to be happy.”
RIP George

Passed peacefully away on October 1st, 2023, at the age of 84 years, George Senior of St. John’s (formerly of Burin). Predeceased by his parents Oliver and Lillian Senior; daughter Michelle (Mayo); sister Annie (Sam Moulton); brothers in law Aubrey Dunford, John Penney (Elsie) and Lawrence Ivany; and sisters in law Ella Senior, Edna (Reg Ivany), Myrtle Penney and Lily (Don McCann).

Left with fond and loving memories his “precious” wife of 65 years Dorothy (Penney); daughter Kathy (Phil McCarthy); granddaughters Alison (Shane) and Jill; son Keith (Zita); granddaughter Kayley (Curtis) and great granddaughter Aurora; son in law Shane Mayo; granddaughters Emma and Beth; sister Jessie Dunford; brothers Clayton (Alice), Clyde (Sarah) and Ross; sister in law Ivy Ivany; brothers in law George, Charles (Rita) and Ellsworth; as well as a large circle of family and friends.

Many thanks to all the staff at Chancellor Park where George and Dorothy have resided for the past four years. Your care and compassion for Dad and your continuing care and compassion for Mom is greatly appreciated.

Cremation has taken place. The family will receive visitors at Carnell’s Funeral Home, 329 Freshwater Road on Saturday, October 14th from 11am – 1:30pm, with a Celebration of Life service to follow directly at 2pm at the Carnell Memorial Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of George may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.