John Austin Mcfadden

Worcester/Paxton- John Austin McFadden, 74, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, March 3, 2023 at UMass Memorial Health Care-University Campus Worcester. He was born in Philadelphia and raised in Worcester, the son of John Joseph McFadden and Eleanor (McFarland) McFadden.

John deeply loved and respected his parents. As a matter of fact, he was a great philanthropist and humanitarian. One of his many gifts was storytelling. He strongly believed that the family's history was an important thing to pass on, and so he never missed an opportunity to talk about his grandparents’ journey from Louisburgh, County Mayo Ireland, or his amazing adventures as a kid growing up in Main South, Worcester.

John graduated from St. Peter’s High School with the class of 1966 and went on to receive degrees from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Worcester State College, and Harvard University. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corp during the Vietnam Era before beginning his exceptional career in teaching and administration for the Worcester Public Schools.

John’s career in the Worcester Public Schools spanned decades and his roles were just as varied. He was passionate about special education, alternative education, and teaching and learning, as he was a life-long learner himself. Both in the classroom and as an administrator, he led many teams in developing experiences for students that would provide them with unprecedented opportunities, specifically drop-out prevention and alternative education programs. During his career he helped his students to grasp the tools they needed to live a happy, productive life while earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues. John retired as Assistant Principal at South High Community School, his true home away from home. He loved his work and made many of his closest and dearest friends working in the WPS.

John married the love of his life, Suzanne in 1971 at St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Worcester. John and Sue lived happily in Worcester for 34 years until moving to Paxton 17 years ago. John was a dedicated and attentive husband who shared a phenomenal love with his wife, setting an amazing example for his children and grandchildren. He was the partriarch of the family and ruled with patience, laughter, and wisdom. He had deep and personal relationships with all his children and grandchildren. Knowing people and developing friendships was second nature for John.

A lifelong Catholic, John most recently attended mass at St. Columba Parish in Paxton. John was an avid reader who brought a book with him everywhere he went. John was a patriot, who believed in the American Dream for every American. John was a family man, who enjoyed spending time in Ponce Inlet, Florida year after year with multiple generations of family. Paramount to this, John was devoted to his grandchildren. He played an active role in each of their endeavors and there was mutual enjoyment in the conversations and interactions they had with Grandpa while he drove them to their next engagement. He provided his grandchildren with a moral compass and the wisdom that only a man like John could impart.

John will be lovingly missed and remembered by his wife, Suzanne Marie (Desmarais) McFadden; his son Sean Austin McFadden and wife Amy McFadden of Canton; his daughters, Meggan Theresa O’Connell and her husband Jason O’Connell of Paxton and Anne Marie Faiola and her husband Joseph Faiola Jr. of Paxton; his sisters, Margaret Graham and her husband Brien Graham of North Brookfield and Eileen McKenna and her husband James McKenna of Shrewsbury; his sister and brother in law Patricia and Thomas Wrenn of Worcester; and his grandchildren, Austin and Ava McFadden, John, Cailey, and Patrick O’Connell, and Alyssa and Angelina Faiola; as well as many beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews. John was predeceased by his brother’s Lawrence and Michael McFadden and his sister’s Kathleen Pultorak and Eleanor McFadden.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2023 at Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main Street, Holden. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Saturday March 11, 2023 at St. Columba Parish, 10 Richards Avenue, Paxton. Burial will be private. Following the mass the family would like all friends and relatives to attend a celebration to honor John’s life, details to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate .