| Date of Birth | September 20, 1927 |
| Passed Away | June 19, 2013 |
| Place of Residence | Hornell |
| Home State | NY |
| Service Date | June 25, 2013 |
| Service Time | 11 a.m. |
| Service Location | St. Ann's Church, Hornell |
| Interment Location | St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Fremont |
JAMES H. “SAM” PRUNOSKE
HORNELL-James H. “Sam” Prunoske, 85, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning (June 19, 2013) at his home on Bennett St., after a brief illness.
Born in Hornell on Sept. 20, 1927, he was a son of the late Edward W. and Margaret W. Smith Prunoske.
A lifelong resident of Hornell, Jim was a graduate of Hornell High School where he excelled in athletics and received three separate letters for football, basketball and baseball. He also played in men leagues (basketball and softball) into his mid forties.
He proudly served his country with the U.S. Army during World War II and for over 40 years he was employed by the former SKF Industries in Hornell, retiring as a machinist.
Jim was a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was a communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and he was also a member of the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 in Hornell.
A sports enthusiast, Jim was an avid fan of the N.Y. Yankees, the Buffalo Bills, Syracuse University and Notre Dame Football.
He will be remembered most of all for being a very devoted husband to his wife, Corrine (Didas) Prunoske, who he married at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell on June 5, 1948; she predeceased him Jan. 2, 2011 after 62 years of marriage. Besides his parents and wife, he was also predeceased by his half sister, Marie French; his brother and sister-in-law, Edward and Edna Prunoske; his brother-in-law, Lt. Leo “Sonny” Didas and his sister-in-law, Mary Agnes Cavalletti.
His surviving family includes his twin children, Janie (David, Col, USMC, Ret.) Barraclough of Pensacola, Fla. and James (Jeannine) Prunoske of Sherburne; his four grandchildren, Stacey (Army SFC Eric) Reinhardt of Fayetteville, NC, Matthew Prunoske (Jennifer Serwinowski) of Lake View, Aimee Barraclough of Pensacola, Fla. and Alicia Prunoske of Sherburne; his two great-granddaughters, Emma and Hannah Reinhardt of Fayetteville, NC; his brother, Louis (Gen) Prunoske of Constantia; his sister-in-law, Sr. Mary Leona Didas, RSM of Rochester and his brother-in-law, Anthony “Tony” Cavalletti of Hornell; also his nieces, nephews.
Calling hours are from 4-7 p.m. Monday at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Friends are invited to meet his family at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either the Hornell YMCA Memorial Fund, 12 Center St., Hornell or to St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, N.Y. 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Janey, Dave and Aimee, I am so sorry for your loss. Thinking of you as you journey home. Much love.
We have such sweet memories of both Mr and Mrs Prunoske, who, from our first meeting 37 years ago, surrounded us with their love and laughter! The Schmidle Family is kinder for having know them. With love,
Jim and Janie-sorry for your loss. Your dad was a fine gentleman.
Didn’t know Mr.Prunoske until a couple of years ago.Enjoyed seeing him at breakfast at the diner each morning,always had a smile,a “good morning”,and maybe a chuckle.Been missing seeing him in his regular booth lately,and will continue to miss him.Knew him as “Jim”,and knowing him was a pleasure.
Jim, Janie and families,
So sorry to hear of your Dad’s passing. He was a kind soul and great neighbor. I have many fond childhood memories of you and both of your parents. Thinking of you.