Obituary of Frederick J. Hiris

Frederick J. Hiris, age 79, died Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Julia Ribaudo Extended Care Center in Lake Ariel. Born on March 23, 1936 at 169 Bleecker Street, Brooklyn, NY, Fred was the youngest of the three children of John and Helena Koenig Hiris. Of Gottscheer descent, he resided in Brooklyn, NY, until he moved to Rte. 590 East, Hawley, PA, in 1990. Gifted with writing and musical talents, he began violin lessons at age 12 and played for many years; but Fred most enjoyed singing. He sang in choruses in elementary and high school, belonged to St. Brigid's Church Choir and choral clubs in NYC, and continued to sing bass with the Honesdale Barber Shop Singers and the First Presbyterian Church Choir in Hawley which he joined in 1997. He attended Brooklyn Technical School and graduated from Bushwick High School in 1954. In June 2014 he attended his 60th class reunion in Long Island at which time the class president told everyone to say their "hello's" and "goodbyes" because this is their last reunion. Fred had a career in insurance, beginning with the Equitable Life Insurance Company and continuing to Equicor Signa, now CIGNA Corporation. A member of the Queen of Peace RC Church, Hawley, Fred became known to our community through his volunteerism. He volunteered for 20 years in the Medical Records Department of the Wayne Memorial Hospital and was recognized in the 2012 Calendar of Local Heroes, published by the News Eagle, as the March Volunteer of the Month. He was also honored by the Hawley Public Library with the 2011 Charles and Alma Hames Volunteer of the Year Award as a 20 year volunteer with the Hawley Public Library. Through the CIGNA Foundation, which supports organizations for which their employees and retirees volunteer, Fred has been able to procure several monetary donations to both the Wayne Memorial Hospital and the Hawley Public Library. In addition to his volunteerism, Fred belonged to CUSA, a Catholic Pen Pal Club, through which he corresponded with many individuals throughout the country and from whom he received many cards and well wishes while a resident at Julia Ribaudo Extended Care Center. He was also a former member of the Paupack 55+ Club and a longtime Red Cross blood donor. Most often Fred would be seen at the Hawley Senior Center for a lunch with his friends. Fred was a champion Scrabble player who excelled in creating those high point, two- and three-letter words and whose strategy it was to make two words whenever he could. A gentle soul, dear uncle and good friend, he will be missed by many. He is survived by his five nieces and their families: Marie (Tom) McDonnell of Lake Ariel, PA; Helen Winkelblech of Hawley, PA; Stephanie (Rich) Gilbert of Honesdale, PA; Margaret (Louis) Gocek of Peckville, PA; and Diana (Ken) Kropf Byers of Hawley, PA. He also leaves behind his good friend, Irene Stark of Greentown, PA. He was pre-deceased by his sister, Helen Kropf and brother-in-law, Fred Kropf, Jr., brother, John Hiris; and great niece, Christina Dillmuth. Calling hours will be Thursday, January 21st from 4 PM to 7 PM at Teeters' East Chapel, 505 Church St., Hawley, PA. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, January 22nd at 10 AM at BVM Queen of Peace Roman Catholic Church, 314 Chestnut Ave., Hawley by Rev. Richard W. Beck, Pastor. Burial will be in BVM Queen of Peace Cemetery, Hawley. Memorials may be made to Hawley Public Library, 103 Main Ave., Hawley, PA 18428.