Allison Fawcett, 32, schoolteacher

Allison Elizabeth Bladt Fawcett, 32, of Lansdale, an elementary teacher in the Central Bucks School District, died at her home Tuesday, Oct. 5, after an eight-year battle with breast cancer.

Mrs. Fawcett grew up in Lansdale, and graduated from North Penn High School in 1996. She earned both a cum laude bachelor's degree in elementary and early childhood education, and a master's degree in reading education, from Millersville University in 2002.

While there, Mrs. Fawcett met her husband, Brian, who was from Manheim, Pa.

In 2002, she was hired to teach first grade at Groveland Elementary School in Doylestown. Brian Fawcett proposed to her that fall, and two weeks later, at 24, she learned she had breast cancer.

She underwent treatment with John Glick at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Cancer Center and went into remission for five years. The cancer recurred 21/2 years ago, said her mother, Anne Scudder Smith.

Mrs. Fawcett's love for education and her students, along with her strong spirit, helped her continue teaching until June. Her students returned that love.

At her school this week, "we heard story after story of how she touched their lives," her mother said. "We were lucky to have her as long as we did."

The staff, parents, and students in the Groveland community rallied around Mrs. Fawcett, cooking meals three times a week and hosting fund-raisers to benefit her Susan G. Komen for the Cure team, Hooters' Heroes.

Because of her fund-raising acumen, Mrs. Fawcett was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show and on local TV. She was also honored in the publication Women's World.

Her family said cancer patients followed Mrs. Fawcett on a Facebook page titled "Pray for Allison Fawcett," and drew strength and inspiration from her story.

Surviving, in addition to her husband and mother, are a daughter, Olivia; a sister, Amanda Bladt; a brother, Will Bladt; and her father, William A. Bladt.

A life celebration will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Groveland Elementary School, 1100 N. Easton Rd., Doylestown. The family will scatter her ashes at Lake Champlain in Vermont, in accordance with her wishes.

Contributions may be sent to the Allison E. B. Fawcett Memorial Fund, Box 575, Ottsville, Pa. 18942.