Miriam Hancock Fendt died on February 2, 2026.

Born in Franklin, Mass., Miriam’s family soon after moved to Lebanon, Ohio, where she held the most childhood memories. She was an energetic child, active in pick-up baseball games and International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. After graduating high school, she attended Campbellsville College in Kentucky, where she met her soulmate, Bert. The two worked behind the scenes on theater productions and campus activities. Upon Bert’s graduation, Miriam — who had picked up the nickname “George” — moved back to Ohio and started at Columbus Business University. After completing her associate’s degree, she moved to Pennsylvania and the two were married.

Always skilled in the kitchen, Miriam took over operation of Felice candy shop and engaged friends and family on the production line. Soon daughter Jennifer was born, and by then she had started working with Bert in his jewelry business. They moved to Lansdale, Penn., and both Jen and Chris enrolled in St Stanislaus School. Even as a non-Catholic, she became involved in the school and active in the Parents’ Club. Known as Mimi to the other parents, she chaired the Christmas Bazaar and Penny Auction. She joined Creative Expressions crafting club and kept up with other craft projects of her own.

In 1996, they sold the business and moved the family to Connecticut, and she resided in Newtown since that time. She always loved to drive around Taunton Lake and enjoyed the rural scenery of the area. She and Bert loved to attend the children’s performances at the high school and travel to the marching band shows. After a fortuitous meeting as a client, she convinced the owner of Amtech pest control to hire her to help with the bookkeeping. The business and their friendship grew from there, becoming the office manager and retiring 20+ years later, only when the business was sold.

George always had a creative streak and loved entertaining on special occasions. She was known to dazzle guests with show-stopping confections, baked goods, and decorations.

Inspired by ancient artisans, she had the ability to be meticulous with the tiniest of details, most evident in her handwriting. In retirement, she started a macrame business, hand crafting pieces at home. She was an avid reader and would tend to have multiple books going at a time, a paperback and one or more on a tablet.

Diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor in May, George remained positive through treatment and unwavering in her optimism. She was able to spend her final months at home with her children and cats by her side. She was preceded by her husband Bert, who passed on in 2008. She is survived by daughter Jennifer, daughter-in-law Sandra Ribeiro, son Christopher, and brothers Clenric and Warren. Services will be held at Honan Funeral Home in Newtown on February 14, from 1-4 pm, with a cemetery service in the spring. Donations can be made to the Glioblastoma Foundation or the Arbor Day Foundation.