Deacon Franklin K. Hung, 79, entered eternal life peacefully, surrounded by his family, on July 16, 2024, in Frederick, Maryland. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend to many. Love was the hallmark of Deacon Frank’s life — love for the Lord and His Church, and love for others.

Born in Hong Kong on Feb. 21, 1945, to Hung In and Yau Lai Wan, Frank was the oldest of nine siblings. On Aug. 25, 1976, Frank married Vera Shu in a beautiful and devoted 48-year marriage. Together, they have three children and four grandchildren.

Growing up in Hong Kong, Frank was active in youth ministry at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church with Italian missionary the Rev. Giovanni Giampietro (Father Yan). He was a member of the Legion of Mary, president of the Junior Praesidium, and a member of the Senior Praesidium. As such, he visited the poor and sick and taught catechism weekly. After completing high school, he entered the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in computer science in 1969. He subsequently worked in Chicago, Illinois, before moving back to Hong Kong in 1975.

In Hong Kong, Frank began working for IBM as a systems engineer and later a sales manager. In 1983, Frank, Vera, and their young family immigrated to the United States, and Frank continued to work for IBM in Rochester, New York. In 1988, Frank and Vera moved the family to Wappingers Falls, New York, with Frank working for IBM in Stamford, Connecticut; White Plains; Tokyo; Armonk, New York; and Somers, New York. He retired from IBM in 2003 after 28 years with the company.

After being a parishioner for several years at St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church in Poughkeepsie, Frank became involved with the parish RCIA program in 1993 to renew his understanding of the faith. He then came to realize his calling of helping others understand the faith as well and the role a deacon could serve with the training and sponsorship of the church. In 1996, Frank applied for and was accepted into the Deaconate Formation Program at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers,.

On June 3, 2000, Frank was ordained a permanent deacon in the Archdiocese of New York at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and was assigned to St. Martin de Porres Church until retiring on April 28, 2019. He faithfully served the parish by assisting at Sunday liturgy and funeral liturgy; preaching at Sunday Mass; officiating at wake services, burials, and weddings; making hospital visits; performing baptisms; leading adult faith formation; and conducting Eucharistic services at the Avalon Assisted Living Home and the Landing Senior Living Home in Poughkeepsie. Utilizing his organization and technology skills, Frank also established computer technology centers in the Catholic schools at St. Martin de Porres and Saints John and Paul Church in Larchmont, under the direction of Father Brian McWeeney.

While at St. Martin de Porres under Father. McWeeney and later Monsignor Jim Sullivan, Deacon Frank served as the director of RCIA from 2005 to 2019; spiritual director for Cursillo Weekends at Mt. Alvernia, Franciscan Retreat Center; spiritual director for Resident Encountering Christ (REC) for inmates at various state and federal correctional facilities; board member of the Dutchess Interfaith Council from 2010 to 2014; secretary and then later chair of the Deacon Council, Archdiocese of New York from 2010 to 2019; and secretary of the Dutchess Area Conference Deanery from 2015 to 2019.

In 2019, Frank and Vera moved to Frederick, Maryland. They left a close community of friends in New York but also gained new friends at St. Joseph on Carrolton Manor in Buckeystown, Maryland.

Frank was a Fourth Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus and served his brother knights for many years as assistant chaplain in Council #7551 at St. Martin de Porres Church and in Council #3162 at St. Joseph on Carrollton Manor. Frank was also honored to be a deputy deacon chaplain in the Order of Malta, American Association from 2019-2024, where he served the sick and poor and remained a consistent witness to the faith.

He is survived by his wife, Vera; sons Andrew Hung, Benjamin (Elizabeth) Hung, and Eric (Cassie) Hung; four grandchildren, Nathanael Hung, Evan Hung, Stephen Hung, and Anna Hung; siblings Alex (Mervis) Hung, Rebecca (Peter) Clarke, Anna King, Rita Hung, Catherine (Jack) Lau, Cecilia (Paul) Yong, Bernard Hung, and Tony (Ally) Hung; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the oncology and radiation teams at the James M. Stockman Cancer Institute, Frederick Health Hospice, and Frederick Health Hospital for their many kindnesses and tremendous care for Frank.

A wake will be held from 3-7 p.m. on August 5, 2024, at St. Martin de Porres Church, 118 Cedar Valley Road, Poughkeepsie, New York; and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. on August 6, 2024, at St. Martin de Porres Church with Monsignor James P. Sullivan as the celebrant.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in memory of Franklin Hung to James M. Stockman Cancer Institute/Oncology Services, Frederick, Maryland 21702, via the website.

Arrangements are under the direction of the William G. Miller & Son Funeral Home, Inc., 371 Hooker Ave., Poughkeepsie, New York.