George D. Casavant

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of George D. Casavant, who left us peacefully at his home on Monday, June 23rd, after a long illness. He was 89 years old.

George leaves behind a loving family: his three children and their spouses, Amy Casavant and Paul Canfield, Chris and Donna Casavant, and Kevin Casavant and his late wife, Janice. He also cherished his six grandchildren, Braeden and Gwyneth Canfield, and Lauren, Connor, Jacob, and Rachel Casavant, all of whom will dearly miss his frequent "granddad" jokes. George was predeceased by his beloved wife, Kay Casavant (formerly Allen), and his sister, Jeanette.

Born on December 7th, 1935, in Waterville, Maine, to Dominique and Estelle (Daviau) Casavant, George was the youngest of three children. He is survived by his brother, 101-year-old Donald Casavant of Ormond Beach, Florida; his sister-in-law June Gangwer of Madbury, New Hampshire; and his brother-in-law John Allen and sister-in-law Marylin Allen of Newmarket, New Hampshire, along with many nieces and nephews.

George often recounted the amusing story of how his older siblings, Don (12) and Jeanette (9), "discovered" him as a new baby when they returned home from school one day. Jeanette, excited by her new baby brother, loved to dress him up and take him out in his carriage. When George was just six or seven, Don left to serve in World War II. George, a bit annoyed by the constant talk of Don's heroic deeds, once quipped, "Why is everyone always talking about Don, is he some kind of hero or something?!" Eventually, George grew to realize his brother was indeed a hero and felt lucky to have a big sister who wanted to play with him.

George graduated from Waterville High School in 1954 and went on to the University of Maine, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Pulp and Paper Mill Technology.

Just ten days after graduating college, George was drafted into the United States Army. After completing basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, he was assigned to the U.S. Biological Laboratory in Frederick, Maryland, where he served the remainder of his two years.

Upon returning to civilian life, George accepted a position with International Paper Company in South Glens Falls, New York. It was there, at an art film screening, that he met Kay. George quickly became Kay’s enthusiastic assistant for various art projects, while he, in turn, encouraged her adventurous spirit. Together, they would rent canoes to paddle local lakes and ponds. George even built his own small sailboat, which they would take to nearby ponds for picnics and adventures. George and Kay married on August 17th, 1963, in New Hampshire, and their first child, Amy, was born in Glens Falls, New York.

In 1968, they moved to New Jersey for George's new job with Riegel Paper in Milford, New Jersey. Though Kay was initially resistant to living in New Jersey, George convinced her with the promise of green acres and no urban sprawl. They settled in Delaware Township, where they resided for 57 years. New Jersey proved to be the right decision as they built a new life together, and their two sons, Chris and Kevin, were soon born.

In New Jersey, George passionately pursued his lifelong hobby of gardening. His mathematical mind delighted in transforming a tiny seed into a mighty zucchini. He spent countless hours in the garden, cultivating the hardiest varieties of plants, berries, and fruits. He grafted fruit trees to create stronger apricot, pear, peach, and apple trees, and meticulously cataloged seeds from previous seasons to grow the most savory tomatoes and radishes. His braids of garlic and onions hung along the basement steps all winter, reminiscent of homesteaders from the 1800’s. He also dove into winemaking, growing his own grapes and even crushing them in an old-fashioned wooden press. Though the results weren't always optimal, George was undeterred and continued making more. Another hobby George took up was beekeeping. Donning his white suit and hat, smoker in hand, he would gather honey. Spinning the frames in a centrifuge yielded the golden honey, and it was always a treat for the children to chew on the waxy honeycomb to get the last bits of raw nectar. Of course, beekeeping also led to candle making—the wax from used honeycombs was never wasted, resulting in candles of all shapes and sizes found throughout the Casavant household. Even in his last few years, George insisted his garden continue to flourish, saving seeds from summers when he could garden alone and directing "volunteers" from the sidelines. As a result, he enjoyed an abundance of butternut squash soup!

George was a true New Englander and engineer at heart, constantly finding ways to repurpose items to solve problems. His solar shower was pure genius, and his pool chairs (plastic chairs with their legs sawed off) brought great laughter to his children and grandchildren. George always had a plan to find a second and even third life for any item, rather than discarding it.

George was quick with a witty joke and effortlessly made friends with everyone he met. He loved learning about other people's cultures and languages and enjoyed inviting friends, both old and new, for dinner on Sunday nights. Guests were often lucky if he was serving his homemade bread or pizza.

When he wasn't busy gardening, George served on the Board of Education in Delaware Township and volunteered with Kay for Thanksgiving in the Country, an event for Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. George also volunteered for the Board of Elections and dedicated countless hours to the Flemington Presbyterian Church, holding several positions over the years, including Deacon, Clerk of Session, and Sunday School teacher.

A memorial service, officiated by Rev. Amy Lincoln, will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 10:00 AM in the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822. Inurnment with military honors will follow at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Holcombe-Fisher Funeral Home, 147 Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822.

For further information or to send an online condolence, please visit www.holcombefisher.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Flemington Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington, NJ 08822 or by clicking the link below.