Frank

Forestport – Francis E. Hanretty, 94, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024 at the Abraham House, Rome, following a long battle with cancer.

Affectionately known as Frank, he was born in Frankfort, NY, on July 21, 1929, a son of John and Hannah O’Mahoney Hanretty. Frank grew up in Utica where he received his education. As a child who lived through the worst of the Great Depression, Frank was a wealth of knowledge and proudly carried his life-learned lessons with him his whole life through, He was happy to help all those he could passing his wisdom on to the next generation.

Frank entered the US Marine Corps on July 24, 1946 and served in North China with the “China Marines” until his honorable discharge on February 16, 1948. On June 8, 1950 Frank re-enlisted with the USMC serving in Korea until his honorable discharge on June 7, 1954 as Staff Sergeant. He was a talented writer and had his war stories published in the Scuttlebutt Magazine, the China Marine Assn. magazine, as well as the Boonville Herald. These firsthand accounts gave the reader the portrayal of what life was like for a young 17-19-year-old marine on the front lines as well as how they had a lasting impact on his life.

Following his return to Central NY, Francis was united in marriage with Collette Kistner on July 21, 1958. The couple settled in Utica, where they lived a majority of their married life and raised their family. Frank was employed for 12 years for Mohawk Airlines where he was employed as a pilot. When computers first came on the scene, Frank then began his longtime employment as a software developer for computer systems in Utica.

A true artist, Frank had many mediums in which to share his talents. Besides a talented author, he sang for a time with a band in Watertown. He was also an extremely gifted painter. His passion was nature scenes, which he painted impeccably from the memory of his own visits to the location of what he happened to be painting.

In the early 1990’s Frank relocated to Forestport, where he has since lived. He was a longtime member of the senior citizen’s center, Clark Mills, and for several years enjoyed attending Forestport Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Hanretty passed away on September 4, 2009.

Frank is survived by one daughter Colleen (Charles) Titus, Clark Mills, his grandson Charles Titus, IV, and granddaughter Tonya Phillips Titus, numerous great-grandchildren, 1 great-great-granddaughter, and a sister Elizabeth Senter, Albany. Besides his wife he was predeceased by his son Ronald Hanretty, siblings: James, Bernard, John Jr., and William Hanretty, Anne O’Connor and Ellen White.

Funeral Services will be held on Friday, February 2, 2024 at 4:00 pm at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. Interment this spring will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Clinton, NY. Calling hours will precede the funeral service beginning at 2:00 pm.