William F. Hughes

William F. "Billy" Hughes, 61, of Ephrata, passed away peacefully on Saturday,

March 21, 2026, after an extremely courageous battle with cancer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of Mathilda (Dunlap) Hughes and the late William F. Hughes. Billy met his wife, Patricia Canepa-Hughes, in 1986 when they attended the Bartone School of Radiography where he graduated Valedictorian. They were married in October 1994 and the rest, as they say, is history. He had been employed as a Key Account Manager at Philips Health Systems North America since 1998. He thoroughly enjoyed learning about the newest medical technology. Because he appreciated the relationships he formed with his colleagues & accounts plus the welcome challenge of "the art of the deal," he decided to continue working when he could have retired in 2025.

Billy will be missed tremendously by all that knew him, for his unparalleled sense of humor and wit, his generosity of spirit, his smile and his laugh, and his unmatched intellect. He was always an avid bowler and scored his first perfect "300" game in 1990. He enjoyed watching his children pursue their passions whether it be sports, theatre, music, you name it. He also had fun participating in a fantasy football league as it spoke to his social and competitive nature. Billy possessed the absolutely unique gift of being able to make people feel comfortable and laugh with him, whether he knew them for 10 seconds or a lifetime. And he could keep up with you in any conversation, on any topic. He would have made the perfect "Phone-a-Friend" on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

Surviving in addition to his wife, Patti, are their daughter, Caitlin Hughes, fiancé of Dylan Painter, and their son, Peter Hughes. Also surviving are two sisters, Deborah and Linda.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Mother of Perpetual Help, 320 Church Avenue, Ephrata, PA 17552, on Saturday,

March 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM. There will be a time of visitation with the family from 10:30 AM until the time of service. Interment will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ephrata.

In lieu of flowers, the family wholeheartedly asks you to please consider a donation be made to: Hospice & Community Care, 685 Good Dr, PO 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604-4125

AND/OR

Special Olympics Lancaster County, PO Box 7442, Lancaster, PA 17604-7442.

"Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality." C.S. Lewis