Ilion Francis "Fran" Cunningham November 22, 1926-June19, 2011 Francis William Cunningham was born on November 22, 1926 in Mohawk, N.Y., the son of John and Clara Furner Cunningham. A graduate of Mohawk High School and Utica College of Syracuse, Fran did his graduate studies at Oneonta and Colgate. On July 7, 1956 Fran married Marie Ballos of Garden City and Camden, N.Y. They shared a devoted union of forty-five years. Marie passed away on September 15, 2001. Employed by the Oneida Historical Society at Utica from 1951 to 1963, Fran then joined the faculty of Ilion High School as a Social Studies teacher, retiring in 1988. At various times, Fran was a part-time instructor at Utica College, a lecturer on Mohawk Valley history at Mohawk Valley Community College, a consultant for the New York State Council on the Arts and, for several years, was Town of German Flatts Historian. Fran served in the army in the Pacific in World War II and was a member of Crowley -Barnum American Legion Post 25 in Mohawk. He is survived by three daughters, Mary Kathleen Cunningham and Patricia Anne Cunningham, both of Sherwood, Oregon, Elizabeth Marie (Philip) Welch of Pittsford, N.Y., and sons, Thomas Francis (Ann) Cunningham and Michael Joseph (Jan) Cunningham of Webster, N.Y. Fran had six grandchildren; Taryn and Bridget Welch of Pittsford, N.Y., John and Caroline Cunningham of Webster, N.Y., and Abby and Lily Cunningham of Irondequoit, N.Y. He is also survived by a brother, Eugene Cunningham of Mohawk, N.Y. and Catherine Scoones or Clinton, N.Y., two devoted cousins, Joan Duford and Sister Doris Thibault of Danbury, Connecticut, and several nieces and nephews. The family is especially grateful to Gerald and Lorie Gallagher of Mohawk and Eileen Kipper of Ilion for their kindness and assistance during Fran's last years. He also greatly appreciated the long years of devoted care and friendship given to him by Bill and Karen Hazlett who he called "the greatest neighbors on earth." A mass of Christian burial for Fran will be celebrated on Friday June 24, 2011 at 10am in the Church of The Annunciation in Ilion; Fr. Leo Potvin will officiate assisted by Deacon James Bower. Interment will follow in the Mohawk Cemetery. Friends may call on Thursday June 23 from 4-7pm at the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home Inc. 100 Otsego St. in Ilion. Special thanks to the staff of St. Luke's hospital for the kindness and compassion they showed our father.