John Francis Hudak

HUDAK Mr. John Francis Hudak, age 71, beloved husband of Gloria Milestan Hudak of West Haven, passed away on Tuesday, December 26, 2006 at St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, surrounded by his loving family following a courageous fight with multiple myeloma. Son of the late John J. and Agnes Dunn Hudak, he was born on November 30, 1935 in Bridgeport. Mr. Hudak attended Notre Dame University as a Novice with the Congregation of Holy Cross. As Brother John Hudak, he taught at Holy Cross Elementary School in New Orleans, La. He received his bachelor degree at Fairfield University and his Master's in Social Work and also completed his 6th year degree at the University of Connecticut. Mr. Hudak was a social worker for the Department of Social Services in New Haven and also with the Hamden School System for more than 20 years before his retirement. He also worked part time at the Boys and Girls Village in Milford. He taught courses in social work as an associated professor at Southern Connecticut State University and taught communications at the University of New Haven. His great love was music, which began at the age of 14, when his uncle gave him a gift of the ukulele. He never took a lesson, instead taught himself to play the ukulele, Banjo, ukebanjo, autoharp, guitar, dulcimer, harmonica and the mandolin. Mr. Hudak enjoyed entertaining the Special Education Classes, Children's Groups and the Elderly. He was the past president and treasurer of the Elm City Banjo Society. In addition to his devoted wife, Mr. Hudak is survived by four children, John P. Hudak (Lynn Arnold) of Guilford, Teresa M. Hudak (Eric Siegel) of New York, N.Y., Patricia E. Hudak (Matt Kolon) of Hong Kong, China and Underhill, Vermont, and Paul M. Hudak (Danielle) of Guilford; two stepchildren, Ron Krystofik (Donna) of Colchester, and Charlene McCulley (Steve) of West Haven; a brother, Gregory J. Hudak of Winterport, Maine; three sisters, Katherine A. Reilly (Patrick) of Akron, Ohio, Judith H. Saucier (Thomas) of Mars Hill, Maine, and Margaret M. Meisel of Hawthorne, Fla.; and 10 grandchildren, John and Taylor Hudak, Carl and Nellie Kolon, Natalie and Corinne Hudak, Ryan, Kyle and Veronica Krystofik and Benjamin McCulley. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Florence Laezzo of West Haven and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Funeral services from the Cody-White Funeral Home, 107 Broad Street on the Green, Milford, on Saturday, December 30, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Victory, 600 Jones Hill Road, West Haven. Interment to follow in St. Mary Cemetery, Milford. Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Boys and Girls Village, Inc., 528 Wheelers Farms Road, Milford, CT 06460. www.codywhitefuneralservice.com.