Joseph Frank Hamula

I met Joe and Joyce when we moved into the Long Beach 9th Ward. Joe looked like this young photo then, and his beautiful wife Joyce and I because close friends. Joyce's parents, Jerry & Jetta were longtime friends of our parents, Don & Helen Markham. So we had long-time quasi-family connections. Joe was a devoted husband and father, with a quick smile and wit, he and Joyce were delightful friends, and great parents to their five sons. Their home radiated such warmth and spirit! I'm sad to see that Joe has passed, but I know it must have been a sweet one to be reunited with his sweetheart Joyce--my dearest friend during our years in Long Beach and later in Huntington Beach. I am late to discover their loss, but I offer their sons, whom I taught in Primary and who are now husbands and fathers, my deepest condolences. The gospel offers us a great comfort when we are separated in life. Blessings to you all.

Dear Family, We are all deeply saddened by the sudden departure of our dear beloved friend, Your Dad. It is very difficult to imagine that we cannot pick up the phone and cannot hear his wonderful Hungarian in a dialect that was in fashion a hundred years ago in Hungary. What an exquisite joy was it to hear him speak Hungarian.
We are all very grateful to him. He hosted us, 2 Hungarians, visiting from Hungary and one from Florida. He took us to the General Conference on April 5 2008, our first live experience of that unforgettable event, and suggested afterwards at his home we ask his Son, James, the just appointed General Authority for a blessing, that he so sweetly granted for all three of us.
What a great Man he has been. Loved his 5 sons and families, he spoke about them in the most kind terms. We were so happy to have met them all. What a proud Father he was and is.
We are grateful to him as long as we live for sharing his home with all of us, visiting from Hungary, for arranging the sealing at the temple and receptions at his house.
He introduced us to the great world and achievements of the Church, all the historic sites and the Welfare Projects.His heart has been full of love for everybody, he was never tired to do something good for each of us. He was always ready for a joke and laughter and feeding us not only physically but spiritually as well.
We cannot imagine he won't be there anymore when we go and visit in Salt Lake City. For us he represents the whole City. For us Józsi bácsi is the Church and Salt lake.
We know he'll meet all our Hungarian relatives beyond the veil, and is a much better missionary for them as we could be.
We have enclosed him in our hearts and his memory will never die as long as we and our posterity lives.
Drága Józsi bácsi, a mi szivünkben örökké élni fogsz
In the name of all the Hungarian church members Julia Morano Valéria Magyar. Erzsébet Szabó

As we are serving a mission here in Nauvoo, we will miss the funeral of your dear father. But we will be with you in spirit. Your mother and I were very good friends and I still miss her to this day. Please know of our love and admiration for your sweet family and we are happy to know your parents have been reunited.

Dear Hamula Family,

Loved your father and grandfather. Your family lived just in back of us in Salt Lake on the hill for many years. My mother also knew your father in California while he was investigating the Church. In fact, my grandfather and your dad had many long talks about the gospel and the Church before he joined. So our ties with your father go way back. I told my mother about your father and we are going to try and get to the viewing, weather permitting. Whenever your father saw me he always spoke to me and knew exactly who I was. I really missed him when he moved. I would see him on occasion at Welfare Square while he was a missionary.

I am so happy he is with your mom and his sweetheart again. Loved your mom too. She could do anything.

Justin & the Hamula family:
Our sympathy, condolences and prayers are with you on your loss. May you find peace, and comfort while you mourn.

Russ, Debbie & Logan

To The Hamula Family,

I am deeply sadden to hear of the loss of your husband, father, grandfather. Keeping all of you in my thoughts and prayers. May Joe rest in peace and may perpetual light shine upon him.

Dr. Hamula
I am sorry for your loss. I thought a lot of your father, as well as of you, and enjoyed his visits to the clinic while I worked there with you.