Obituary of Louise Milunski

Louise Milunski, 92, passed away peacefully on February 11, 2023, in Altamonte Springs, Florida, after a long illness, surrounded in her final days by her immediate family.  Ann Louise Knack was born on November 9, 1930, in Amsterdam, New York, to Charles and Ethel (Sharp) Knack.  She was the youngest of six children, all of whom preceded her in death.

Louise was educated in the Amsterdam Public School System and graduated from the Wilbur H. Lynch Senior High School in 1948. The day following graduation she immediately went to work at the Montgomery County Trust Company. Over the years, the bank went through a series of acquisitions by larger banks, and she retired as an Assistant Vice President from 1^st American Bank in 1991 after more than 40 years of faithful service. She was a “working Mom” in the 1950s and 1960s long before such a term was used, and she performed that role very well. She was a pioneer in every sense of the word.  Although working in a small town, she unknowingly paved the way for other women in the workplace.  At the same time, she was a talented seamstress, crocheter, knitter, and baker. 

Louise married her high school sweetheart, Raymond (Ray) Milunski, on July 2, 1950, at St. Joseph’s Church in Amsterdam. They celebrated their 72^nd wedding anniversary in 2022. Ray was a teacher in the Broadalbin Central School District and retired in 1989. She and Ray moved to Central Florida in 2016 to be closer to family in their later years. He was a devoted husband and cared for her until the end.

While living in Amsterdam, Louise was active in several church, civic and women’s business groups.  Along with her husband, Louise was a communicant and active parishioner at St. Joseph’s Church, and subsequently at St. Stanislaus Church after the closure of St. Joseph’s.

They have two sons, Dr. Mark R. Milunski and Fr. Brad A. Milunski, OFM Conv. They, along with her two grandsons, Matthew and Andrew, and her two great-grandsons, Benjamin and Henry, were the apples of her eye. A third great-grandchild, Hannah Sofia, preceded her in death in 2020. She was extremely proud of all of them and never hesitated to show it or tell you about them at every opportunity. She remembered everyone’s birthday and every holiday and never sent a greeting card late. Elegantly wrapped Christmas and birthday gifts, along with her homemade Easter baskets, were much-anticipated events every year.

Louise is survived by her husband Ray, her two sons, Mark and Brad, two grandsons, Matthew (Sarah) and Andrew, and two great-grandsons, Benjamin and Henry, and her daughter-in-law, Christine. She had many nieces and nephews who survive her, but she was particularly fond of visits with Dr. Raymond Dugas and Patricia Mengel. She was also a godmother to many family members and friends. Louise was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, one sister, and her great-granddaughter Hannah Sofia Milunski.

Funeral arrangements are being made through the DeGusipe Funeral Home, Altamonte Springs, Florida, and Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, Amsterdam, New York.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday, February 18, from 8:30a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at DeGusipe Funeral Home, 9001 N. Orlando Ave., Maitland, FL and on Tuesday, February 21, from 8:30a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church, 50 -52 Cornell St, Amsterdam, NY.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by her son, Fr. Brad A. Milunski, OFM Conv., at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church, Altamonte Springs, FL on February 18, at 10:00 a.m., and at St. Stanislaus Church in Amsterdam, NY on February 21, at 10:00a.m. Interment will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Fort Johnson, NY.

Donations may be made in Louise’s memory to St. Mary Magdalen Church, 861 Maitland Avenue, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701, or St. Stanislaus Church, 50-52 Cornell Street, Amsterdam, NY 12010.