Ilona H. Hunter
Ilona H. Hunter passed away on November 30, 2024 at the age of 92 after a brief illness. She had been a resident of the independent living unit of Atterdag Village.
Ilona was born and raised in New York City. She loved to travel which led her to a 30+ year career as a purser for Pan American Airways, traveling to the four corners of the world. In those days of pre-corporate and private jets, she met several of the greats of the time. Most special to her was Martin Luther King Jr. who later wrote a letter of commendation for her. Ilona was a lifelong reader, continued travel enthusiast, and animal lover, giving a loving home to a succession of rescue cats.
Ilona met Richard Hunter on the rooftop of their New York City apartment building on July 4th, 1966, and they began their lives together the following year. In 1990 they moved to Solvang where they happily settled into small town life. They had a strong and loving marriage until his passing in 2010. In her later years, she thoroughly enjoyed many services of the Solvang Senior Center, where she took exercise classes, attended the monthly Senior Suppers and developed many close friendships. Both she and Richard were longtime members of Saint Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church.
Surviving relatives include her sister, Margaret Fridecky of New York, NY, her cousins, Christopher Morris, and Michael Morris, and their families in the UK and her step son-in-law, Timothy Meyer and his family in the process of moving to Jefferson, North Carolina, In the last couple of years of her life, she also had the great friendship, love, and extraordinary caring of Laura and Larry Barbro of Los Alamos, CA.
Ilona was predeceased by her husband, Richard Hunter, her sister, Marie Nemeth and her parents, Edward and Piri Fridecky.
Interment will be alongside Richard in Prospect Hill Cemetery, Nantucket, MA. A “Celebration of a Life” will be held in Solvang, time and place to be announced. Should you wish to make a donation in Ilona’s memory, please consider the following: Solvang Senior Center 1745 Mission Dr. Solvang, CA 93463, Saint Mark’s in the Valley 2901 Nojoqui Ave. Los Olivos, CA 93441.