Ernie was born on May 23, 1937, to Petronilo, Hufana Sr. and Hilaria Liclican, in Baguio City, Philippines. He graduated from high school in Baguio City and worked as a golf caddy at Camp John Hay, United States military base. He was a U.S. Navy Seaman from 1960-1964. While stationed at Rough and Ready Island in Stockton, California he met his future wife, Perpetua Felomina Juanitas. They were married on June 2, 1963, at St. George’s Church in Stockton, and went on to have six children. After his Navy discharge, he was a bartender in Long Beach, California. In 1967, he was a bartender at Stockton Golf and Country Club and obtained his United States high school equivalency at the Stockton School for Adults. Ernie and his brother-in-law, Cyril Juanitas, Sr., were business partners managing Cirilo’s Cocktails & Café in 1969. Paul Prieto became his business partner in 1982 until retiring from Cirilo’s in 1985.
After Cirilo’s, Ernie occasionally worked part-time jobs in Stockton including March’s Liquors and as a security guard, and with the City of Stockton at Lyons Golf Course on Rough and Ready Island and Van Buskirk Golf Course. He was an avid golfer; loved to cook; and liked taking trips to Reno. He enjoyed landscaping, gardening, and often socialized with his buddies at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Costanza’s and other local establishments. He loved his family and idolized his grandchildren. Ernie was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Benjamin, Sr., Floro, and Petronilo, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 59 years; his children Catherine, her husband, Jonathan C. Maghirang; Suzanne, her husband, Fredrick Williams, Jr.; Sharlene Anne, her husband, Gene Marken; Ernesto Jose, Michael, and David Hufana. He is also survived by siblings Rodolfo and Aurelio Hufana, and Norma Malimban; grandchildren, Maximillian Terriberry, Jonathan David and Isaiah Maghirang, Jacob Williams, Jade Williams-Chan, her husband, Lawrence Brandon Chan and Jenna Williams, Kalea and Cole Marken, Elizabeth, Victoria, Alexia, Isabella, Emily, Naomi, and Melanie Hufana, Elon, Simone, and Zariah Hufana.
He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and extended family.
For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. John 3:16.
