George Cunningham Obituary
August 1, 1950 – November 25, 2025
George W. Cunningham was born on August 1, 1950 in Lawrence, MA. He passed away peacefully on November 25, 2025. George was the only son of Elizabeth (nee Bachmann) and George I. Cunningham.
George enjoyed his childhood growing up in the Bachmann family home on Montgomery St. in Lawrence. He was well cared for by his mother Elizabeth. He especially enjoyed spending time on fishing trips to Forest Lake in Methuen at the Petzold family camp; there he could be with his mother, aunts Etta Ratcliffe (Elizabeth’s twin sister) and Helen Petzold, and Don and Dot Petzold. Besides Etta and Helen, all his aunts (Anna Brierley and Lillian Judish) and their families were special to him. As well, he enjoyed time at family gatherings at John and Bernice Lemieux’s pool with the cousins in Salem, NH. His trips to Seabrook, NH at the camp his mother rented for the family were special to him. He worked for many years at the Bon Secours Hospital in Methuen and was a faithful and dedicated employee, many times walking to his job at the hospital. If he needed something, he was known to walk to Barcelos Market on Jackson St down the hill from his home. After his mother passed, he enjoyed taking trips with his cousin Allyn Ratcliffe and Sheila to Walt Disney World and Las Vegas; he showed good humor on those trips enjoying rides like the Pirates of the Caribbean. He also enjoyed trips with Allyn to the coast of Wells Maine to see the ocean. Although Allyn was his cousin and guardian, they were like brothers.
In recent years, he was well cared for by Sheila Ratcliffe and the staff at the Bridgewell group home in Amesbury, MA. Although George was challenged with many health issues since childhood, he loved life and his mother and family.
Visitation will be held in the Burke-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 390 North Main Street, Andover on Monday, December 1, 2025, from 10 to 11 AM. George's funeral service will be celebrated at 11 AM. Interment will be held in the Elmwood Cemetery in Methuen. For additional information, please visit, www.burkemagliozzi.com.