CALLICOON  — The community said goodbye to a pillar on Friday, December 1 as Frank Hahn, a 60-year member of the Callicoon Fire Department, was laid to rest. Fire Departments across the county joined in on a celebration of life of Hahn at the Callicoon Firehouse. 

Hahn passed at the age of 78 on November 26 and boasted a decorated firefighting career. He held many positions within the fire department, including Chief, Chief Engineer and as a member of the Board of Fire Commissions.

Many family and friends of Hahn showed up to say goodbye and offer condolences to Frank’s wife, Carla, and say some words about what he meant to the community. 

Callicoon Fire Chief William Maxwell presented Hahn’s badge to Carla during the ceremony. 

A few members of the Callicoon Fire Department offered the readings, before a number of individuals at the service shared eulogies to remember Frank. 

Carla talked about the way Frank showed love to people in his life.

“You all know he talked to you with some pretty crass words,” she said. “If he didn’t call you names, he didn’t love you.”

After words of remembrance were spoken by several family and friends, a “Last Call” was signified with the Fire Department bell ringing several times and a statement read to recall the final call that Hahn took. Maxwell said that Hahn’s last call was driving the department’s apparatus, 63-62, to an MVA on County Rte. 114. 

The funeral service at the firehouse culminated in members of the Callicoon Fire Department, who were chosen as pallbearers for the service, carrying the casket into the hearse. 

The various fire trucks from a number of departments then led a procession through Callicoon, with the Roscoe-Rockland Fire Department and Hancock Fire Department using their ladder trucks to raise American flag up across the road on Lower Main Street across from the Callicoon Train Station. 

Frank was then taken to Callicoon Center Cemetery, where he was buried. Friends and family were invited to come back to the Firehouse to continue the remembrance of Frank and celebration of his life. 

Upper Delaware Captain Connor Duffy and his wife, Kaitlyn, helped to plan the funeral, while the Upper Delaware Ambulance Corps helped with the cleanup of the firehouse and was on standby. Lake Huntington Fire Department, Jeffersonville Fire Department, Callicoon Center Fire Department and the Hortonville Fire Department were the other departments to participate in the funeral services. White Lake Fire Department was on standby with an engine during the funeral. 

In her eulogy for her late husband, Carla said that everybody who came to visit Frank after he knew he was going to go, told them, “you take care of my wife,” showing the love he had for her.