Obituary of Genevieve K. Banas

Genevieve K. Banas 1919 – 2018 Utica/Liverpool Genevieve K. Banas, 99, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 13, 2018, at the home of her daughter in Liverpool, NY, with her loving family by her side. Genevieve was born on January 25, 1919, in Utica, the daughter of Karol & Julia Szaro Cisto. She was raised on a dairy farm in Barneveld, NY, and attended local schools. She worked on the farm as a teenager, and later became a housekeeper / nanny for a family in Trenton, NY. She married the love of her life, John S Banas Sr, on May 6, 1950, in Holy Trinity Church. Genevieve and John enjoyed 48 years of loving marriage together, until John's passing in 1999. Genevieve found great satisfaction in being a homemaker while her children were young. She then began a career at General Electric until its' closing in the early 1970's, followed by a position as an assembly worker at ICL, until her retirement. During her retirement years, she volunteered at Holy Trinity Bingo and the annual parish festival; she was also one of the original "Pierogi-Making" Crew, an experience she really enjoyed. When she wasn't spending time with her family and friends, she was busy baking and gardening. She loved planting and tending to her flowers and vegetables, and was known to have the ultimate green thumb, frequently nursing dying plants back to life. Genevieve is survived by two daughters, Karen and her husband, Gary Latte, of Saratoga Springs, NY, and Sandra and her husband, Thomas Hodson, of Liverpool, NY; one son, John S. Banas Jr of Troy, NY; one daughter-in-law, Michele Banas, of New Hartford, NY; eight loving grandchildren including Adrienne Banas Carbone, Nicole Zumpano and her husband Al, Jennifer Latte, Erica Mahany and her husband David, Allison Milligi and her husband Matthew, Danielle Hodson, and her fiancé, Derek Duggan, Thomas Hodson, and his fiancé, Tara Nealon and Christina Hodson. Also included are loving great grandchildren Ava Carbone, Angela Carbone, Ariana Carbone, Thomas Mahany, Finn Mahany, Tessa Zumpano, Madeline Zumpano, and Lilly Zumpano, and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband, John, in 1999; by her son, Michael in 2016; by her sister Mary, in 2001; and by her sister Gladys, in 2007. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Mass of Christian Burial which will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 a.m. at Holy Trinity Church. Those who wish may call on Wednesday from 4 – 7 p.m. at the Kowalczyk Funeral Home, 1156 Lincoln Ave., Utica. Burial will take place in Holy Trinity Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Genevieve's name may be made to the Holy Trinity Memorial Fund, or Hospice of Central New York. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Light a Candle at: www.kowalczykfuneralhomes.com