Israel Hernandez

To view the livestream of the funeral service please use the EXTERNAL VIDEO link under the Photos & Videos tab above.

Israel Hernandez of South Fallsburg passed away on March 31, 2025, at Garnet Health Medical Center at the age of 84. He was born on November 11, 1940, in Moca, Puerto Rico, to the late Claudio Hernandez and Estebania Soto.
Israel dedicated over thirty years of his life to working at the Raleigh Hotel, where he served as the Head Baker until his well-earned retirement. Throughout his life, he enjoyed spending time with his friends and family playing cards, dominos, making cash donations to Monticello Raceway and most importantly, attending school activities with his children and grandchildren. Israel was always active with family, supporting them in all their sporting and life events, and his pride in them was unwavering. He always cherished his time returning to the island of his youth to spend time with his brothers, sisters and friends.
Above all, Israel’s greatest love was for his family. He cherished his wife, Iliana Hernandez, with whom he shared a lifetime of memories. He was a devoted father to his children: Israel Hernandez Jr. and his wife Natalia, Katherine Rappaport, and Marilyn Signorile. His eight grandchildren, Olivia, Bianca, Brooke, Jenna, Ryan, Amara, Christian, and Manuel, were the light of his life, and his two great-grandchildren, Emma and Emelia, brought him immeasurable joy.
Israel is also survived by his siblings: Teresa, Audia, Jesus, Julio, Gloria, Ana, and Carmen, and was predeceased by his sister Julia.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, from 6 to 8pm at Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, New York. A funeral service will take place on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Fallsburg Cemetery in Fallsburg, New York.
Israel will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his work, and the love he gave so freely to everyone around him. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.