William Russell Hughes

William Russell Hughes, Russ to friends or “Uncle Russ” or “Unk” to all of his nieces or nephews, died peacefully on May 28, 2014 at Regency Heights in Willimantic, CT after a long illness. Bill was born on April 22, 1926 to the late Teresa McPhee and William R. Hughes of East Hartford. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and retired from Allen Tool after a long career in accounting. He was a parishioner of St. Mary’s Church and a member of the Knights of Columbus, the VFW and the Moose Lodge in East Hartford. He was a longtime resident of East Hartford, moving to Eastford in 1997 to be closer to family and spent his final years living near his nephew, Lew Shamback and his family across from Halls Pond where he loved working with all the flowers he planted every year and where he will be greatly missed by the deer, squirrels, chipmunks and birds which spent many hours on his deck eating the food he left for them providing hours of entertainment for him. After his move he attended St. Phillip Church in Ashford. One of the things Unk will be remembered for is his wonderful crown roast of pork with hot sausage stuffing and whiskey marinated apples which he made for years for the Shamback and Kostruba families for Christmas Eve. He also made the best eggplant parmigiana which he always brought to our family reunions. He loved scratch tickets and going to the casino with his dear friend Ken.

Uncle Russ leaves his beloved nieces and nephews Lewis Shamback and wife Juli, Gail Kostruba and husband Michael of Granby, Diane Repoli of Manchester, Martin St. John of Middletown, Cindy Helfrich and husband David of NH, Lynn Webber and husband Richard of Ellington, Russell St. John and wife Jeri of Somers, Thomas Crank and wife Susan of Enfield and a sister-in-law Gwen Hughes of Redlands, CA. He also leaves his great nieces and nephews Shaun (Pam) Kostruba, Peter (Daniele) Kostruba, Amy (Matt) Hirchak, Chuck (Jill) Shamback, Ben (Amanda) Shamback, Lisa (Keith) Carroll, Laurie (Brian) Kmito. Kevin (Jessica) Repoli, Liz (Matt) Hosley, Rachel St. John, Jessica (David) Connor, Shaenna Holliman, Gillian Webber, Jaime (Matt) McCarthy, Joshua St. John, Karen McLeod, Richard Hughes, David Hughes, Peter (Shane)Hughes, Kathy Hughes and many great, great nieces and nephews

Also leaves his good friend, Kenneth Geremia. He was predeceased by his brothers Thomas (Buddy)Hughes of East Hartford and Richard Hughes of Redlands, CA, and sisters Beverley Shamback of Rocky Hill, Corrinne St. John and Ruth Crank both of Enfield, and Frances Hughes and uncle of Douglas Crank of Enfield.

The family would like to thank the staff at Windham Hospital ICU and Regency Heights for the wonderful care of Unk as well as his homecare aids.

Calling hours are to be held on Friday, May 30th, 5-7pm at the Newkirk & Whitney Funeral Home, 318 Burnside Ave., East Hartford, CT 06108. Funeral services will begin at the funeral home on Saturday, May 31st at 9am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am in St. Mary’s Church, 15 Maplewood Ave., East Hartford. Burial with full military honors will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.newkirkandwhitney.com