John was born on November 17, 1940, in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, to Margaret Hawley and Delmo Ferranti. He spent much of his youth in the Massachusetts Child Welfare System, living in foster homes and institutions, until he enlisted in the United States Air Force at age 17.
A Vietnam veteran, John served in the Air Force for 20 years, with assignments in San Antonio, Morocco, Italy, Vietnam, and Thailand, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1979. While in the service, John obtained his GED and went on to earn a BBA from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas. After retiring from the Air Force, John worked at the corporate offices of Church’s Fried Chicken in San Antonio, Texas, which was later acquired by Far West Products. He served as Director of Engineering & Manufacturing until his retirement after 15 years with the company.
John married Maria Elena Trevino on October 3, 1964, in San Antonio, Texas. They had two children, Gino and Jacqueline (Jackie) Hawley, and were married for 21 years until Maria passed away from biliary cirrhosis on February 26, 1985, after battling the disease for several years. Later that year, on December 14, 1985, John married Mary Ann Wilborn Aranda of San Antonio, whom he had known and worked with since 1981.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Maria Elena Hawley; his father, Delmo Ferranti, and stepmother, Grace Ferranti; his mother, Margaret DiGangi; his half-brother, Frank Ferranti; his half-sister, Joanne Soares; his in-laws from his first marriage, Maria’s parents, Ramona and Fernando Trevino, and her siblings, Fernando Jr., Amado, Manuel, Marcos, and Joe Simon Trevino; and his in-laws from his second marriage, Mary Ann’s parents, Lydia and John Wilborn, and her brother, Johnny Wilborn.
John is survived by his second wife, Mary Ann Hawley; his son, Gino Hawley of New York, NY; his daughter, Jackie, and her husband, Todd Joyner, of San Antonio, TX; his stepson, Frank Aranda, and his wife, Flordeliza Flores, of San Antonio, TX; his stepdaughters, Laura Aranda of Dallas, TX, and Andrea and her husband, Chris Griffin, of Boerne, TX. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Victoria and her husband, Chayce Stone; Savannah and her husband, Michael McPartland; Colin Joyner, Austin Joyner, Devin and his wife, Lorena Bolden; Mariana Aranda, Isabella Aranda, Kalaina Griffin, Caydence Griffin, and Christopher Griffin Jr.
Additionally, John is survived by his great-grandchildren: Kennedy and Lily Stone, Caroline and Vivienne McPartland, and Aizen Cole.
He also leaves behind his half-brother, Joe Ferranti, and his wife, Lisa; his half-sister, Marie, and her husband, Bill O’Connor; his half-sister, Barbara DiGangi; his brother-in-law, Ronald Soares; his sisters-in-law from his first marriage, Cruz Verastiqui and Carolyn Dominguez; his sister-in-law from his second marriage, Gloria, and her husband, Edwin Lippert; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Todd Joyner, Colin Joyner, Austin Joyner, Frank Aranda, Devin Bolden, and Chris Griffin.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 pm on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Sunset Northwest Funeral Home, 6321 Bandera Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238, with a Rosary service from 6 to 7 pm. Funeral services will be held at 10 am on Monday, September 30, 2024, at St. Dominic Catholic Church, with Father Jaime Paniagua officiating. Burial will follow at 11:30 am at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209.
The family of John Hawley wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Journeys Hospice of Texas, with special appreciation to Georgia from 'The Key' caregiver staff, who took excellent care of him over the last eight months.
For those who wish to honor John's memory, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a charity close to his heart.
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