Maralee Hicks

BARRE – Maralee Juliana Hicks passed away early in the morning on Wednesday, January 14, 2026. Maralee was born on August 15, 1935, in Albion New York, a daughter of the late Charles and Clara DiLaura Juliana.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman, breaking marital union of 68 years. He passed away on November 20th, 2023.

Maralee is survived by three sons, Dr. David G. Hicks and his wife Patti of Rochester, NY, Rev. Daniel H. Hicks and his wife Tammie of Mifflinburg, Pa., and Thomas C. Hicks and his wife Mary DiFilippo from the town of Barre. Maralee is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and step-grandchildren – grandson Matthew Hicks; granddaughter Amanda Maxim, her husband Micah and their children Carter and Logan; granddaughter Emily Hummel, and her husband Brad; grandson Stephen Hicks and his children, Mason and Everett; granddaughter Laura Herbert, her husband Nathan and their daughters Ellie and Hannah; grandson Thomas Hicks, his wife Jessica and their sons, Camden and Bennett.

Maralee is also survived by several step-grandchildren, 4 grandsons –  grandson James, his wife Melissa, and their children Julianna, Grace, Jimmy and Gabby; grandson Patrick, his wife Kellie and their children Alex and Monroe; grandson Ian, his wife Caitlin and their daughters Haily and Josie; and grandson Nicholas; 2 granddaughters – granddaughter Joanna; granddaughter Jenna, her husband Matthew, and their children Stella and Millie.

Maralee is also survived by one brother Charles and his wife Mari of Sebestian, Florida; a sister-law, Pauline Radzinski of Albion; a brother-in-law, Donald Pawlacyzk of Rochester; along with several cousins, nieces and nephews.

Maralee was also preceded in death by one sister, Duanne Zicari; a sister-in-law, Marcia Pawlacyzk, and a brother-in-law, Ronald Radzinski.

Maralee graduated from Albion High School in 1953 ranked 3rd in her class. She enjoyed being a cheerleader, being in the plays and musicals, and the chorus. Maralee worked hard all of her life. After graduating from High School, she worked as an Administrative Assistant to Gerald R. Delaney of Eastman Kodak.

On August 20th, 1955 at Saint Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church in Albion, she married the late Herman C. Hicks, and she has lived in their home on Maple Street for over 70 years. In addition to helping my father run Hicks Hollow Farms, Maralee also worked as a Stenographer for the Orleans County Courthouse. From 1978 to 1990 She worked as Secretary to the Administrator at Arnold Gregory Hospital in Albion. From 1990 to 2000 she was the secretary to the Superintendent of Schools in Albion, Ronald L. Sodoma. She worked as a Secretary at the Pregnancy Care Center in Albion from 2000 to 2007. After that she worked as a secretary at Harvest Christian Fellowship for a couple of years.

Maralee was a faithful, loving and devoted wife to my father and took good care of him. Maralee was a wonderful and encouraging mother to her three sons. She was an A student in High School. Her teachers wanted her to go on to Medical School, but there was no money for her to be able to do so. And she wanted nothing more than for her three sons to be able to go to college. They each had their own bedroom. And from little on up she made sure we each had a desk and a good lamp for her sons to study and do their homework.

And she was so pleased all three of her sons have two post High School degrees. Maralee was a great encouragement to each of her sons and typed many of their papers when they were in college and graduate school. Maralee, as we affectionately called her, Grandma I-Yi, dearly loved her grandchildren and during these last years enjoyed visits from and seeing pictures of all of her great-grandchildren.

Maralee accepted Christ as her Savior after hearing Harris Wilcox preach at the Christian and Missionary Alliance, which at the time of Easter 1973 was meeting at the Lions Club in Albion. She joined and attended the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Albion from 1973 to 1991. And she joined and attended Harvest Christian Fellowship until she was no longer able to go, from 1991 to the present.

Maralee has loved the Lord and remained faithful to him for over 50 years. Maralee loved to cook and bake for her family. Her specialties included her spaghetti, with homemade sauce, and her cookies and pies. Maralee also held several fellowship meals in her home for Harvest Christian Fellowship. She had a real gift of hospitality.

Maralee loved Monarch Butterflies. On the back of her tombstone where she will be buried with her husband is a picture of a Monarch Butterfly, along with the words to 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passing away; behold, all things have become new.” Maralee suffered for a lot of years with the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s. Her family praises God that her suffering is over, and that for her all things have become new.

Maralee’s family will receive friends at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, 21 W. Avenue, Albion on Monday, January 19, from 5 to 7 p.m. Maralee’s funeral service will be held at Harvest Christian Fellowship, 560 East Ave. Albion, NY 14411 on Tuesday, January 20, at 10 a.m., and will be conducted by her son, Rev. Daniel H. Hicks. Interment will follow at Mt. Albion Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Harvest Christian Fellowship.

To share a special memory of Maralee, please visit: www.mitchellfamilyfuneralhomes.com.