Obituary of George I. Hugunine

Verona-George I. Hugunine, age 94, of State Rt. 31 passed away unexpectedly on Memorial Day, Monday May 27, 2024, at his home. He was born on July 10, 1929, in Verona, New York; a son of the late Irving D. and H. Melicent (Kaiser) Hugunine. He graduated from Verona High School in 1947. On September 24, 1955, George and Rita C. Wells were united in marriage in St. Francis of Assisi Church in Durhamville and shared that loving union for 55 years - until Rita's death on October 15, 2010. In 1986 George retired from the maintenance department of the NYS Thruway Authority where he was a heavy equipment operator. He was a faithful member of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church of Verona, a Third-Degree member of the E. Bart Hanifin Council #473 of the Knights of Columbus, a seventy-year member of the Verona Fire Department, a Fire Commissioner for twenty years with the Town of Verona and a former member of the Oneida Moose Club. In his spare times he enjoyed golf, bowling, yardwork and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. Surviving are his three children and their spouses: Paula (Charles) Hanna of Belton, Texas, Gary (Christine) Hugunine of Rochester and Karen (William) Pilotti of Phoenix, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren and their spouses: Michael (Rebecca), Jeffrey (Julia), Mary, Christopher (Miranda), David, Patrick, Adam, Caty and Noah; two step-grandchildren and three great-grandchildren Brynn, Claire and Cecilia; one sister, Beverly Walker of Verona; as well as several nieces and nephews. George was predeceased by his parents, his wife Rita, sisters Mary Jane Dixon and Dorothy Conroy, brother S. Michael Hugunine, and grandson Stephen Hanna. Family and friends are invited to call on Wednesday, June 5, 2024 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Malecki Funeral Home Inc., 23 Front St., Vernon. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 6, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church Main Street, Verona with the Rev. Edmund Castronovo celebrant. Burial will follow in Verona Cemetery, Verona. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Verona Fire Department. Online condolences may be sent to maleckifuneralhome.com