About
Pavian and Cavell were known for their acts of compassion, generosity, and steadfast commitment that has touched the lives of families, children, adults, within the community in which they lived.
Mr. Pavian B. O’Connor
Pavian was born in Bartons, Saint Catherine Parish of Jamaica, West Indies, November 16, 1930. He was one of four boys and had six sisters from parents Andrel O’Connor and Myrtle Craigie.
Pavian grew up there, attending public school. Well-known as an athlete and scholar, Pavian participated in soccer, cricket, however his passion was bodybuilding. Pavian participated and competed in numerous bodybuilding competitions. Pavian’s most iconic bodybuilding victory was the 1962 Mr. Physique, overall and best symmetry winner.
Pavian was employed at one of Jamaica’s Grand Hotels; Myrtle Bank Hotel as an artisan and later as a mixologist. Pavian was self taught in the fields of human, physical and environmental geography. Pavian always believed that whatever our roles might be as parents, teachers, caregivers, or social workers – the role must be taken seriously and understanding the importance of education.
Pavian migrated to the United States of America in 1974. Pavian was employed with the Lotus Club that was founded in 1870. The Lotus Club where Pavian was employed was known as “a literary and artistic bent, which has accumulated a noted collection of American paintings. Its “State Dinners” are legendary fetes for scholars, artists and sculptors, collectors and connoisseurs, writers and journalists, and politicians and diplomats”.
Pavian was an active member and participant of Primrose Cricket Club located in Bronx, New York. The non-profit overview of the Primrose Cricket Club supervised numerous recreational, sports, and social programs. They included but not limited to: cricket games, domino tournaments, thanksgiving dinners on thanksgiving day for the homeless, children christmas parties-entertainment and gifts for children, and donated scholarships to club members children.
Pavian married the former Cavell G. Foster, they had eight children, twenty-eight grandchildren, thirty-eight great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild, which survived Pavian following his passing in February 2015.
Mrs. Cavell G. O’Connor
Cavell was born in Bounty Hall, in the Parish of Trelawny, county of Cornwall in northwest Jamaica, West Indies, October 14, 1929. Her parents were Charles Foster and Elizabeth Foster.
Cavell grew up in Bounty Hall, attending public school. She grew up and matured very quickly, learning those Arts and Crafts that were an important role in her development as a young woman. She had the uncanny ability to bake, cook, sew, and crochet, entirely without the aid of already prepared or pre assembled components.
Cavell was a seamstress and tailoress. She mend all types of clothing and consequently anything else made of fabric. She was also able to create her own patterns, and decorated those patterns with detailed embroidery work. As an independent artisan, who not only repairs customers clothing, she created new designs for a solid network of clientele, family members and people living in the local community.
Cavell gained prominence for her ability to bake cakes and puddings from scratch, specifically the Jamaican fruit or black cake and Jamaican sweet potato pudding. These favorite Sunday deserts of Jamaicans, she prepared for a myriad of special occasions i.e. weddings, birthdays, graduations, retirements, holiday parties, religious ceremonies, and funeral reception (repass), just to name a few.
Cavell migrated to the United States of America in 1974. She was employed with Wartburg, which have been caring for the community since 1866. Wartburg is known for their award-winning home care and adult care services. She was later employed with Shalom Nursing Home Inc, which provides extended-stay nursing care to seniors with varying levels of disabilities in Mount Vernon, NY.
During Cavell’s career as a seamstress and health care provider, she provided services for the nucleus or core family, and extended family members. She strongly believes that everyone she serves is family and the benefits of having and living in a family are of the utmost importance. She was so deeply ingrained in the strong bonds of and with family members to improve physical, emotional, mental health and over-well being of parents, children and young adults.
Cavell married Pavian B. O’Connor, they had eight children, twenty-eight grandchildren, forty great grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild, which survived Cavell following her passing in February 2017.