John “Jack” W. Hughes
1923-2018
,With much appreciation for a life well
lived, the family of John Wallace Hughes (Jack) announce his death
which occurred peacefully on October 18, 2018 at Embassy Hall,
Parkland in the Valley, Quispamsis, NB.
Jack was born in Saint John,
NB, April 21, 1923 to Beulah (nee Kelly) Hughes and Bernard (Ben)
Hughes. He shared many fond memories of his childhood days residing on
Second Street in the north end of Saint John and attending Prince
Charles School. His family eventually left the city and settled in
Quispamsis. He spent many summers on his grandparent’s farm
at Point Wolfe near Alma, NB. He had several aunts and uncles who
settled in Alma following the development of Fundy National Park where
they operated businesses along Main Street for decades.
Jack’s mother kept a summer cottage there which she fondly
named “The Peak” in reference to its position above the Bay
of Fundy offering breathtaking views of both the bay and the village
of Alma.
The Peak would become the hub
for many years of summer gatherings not only for Jack and Betty and
their children but for Jack’s siblings and their children as
well.
Jack enlisted in the Canadian Army in November, 1940
and received an honourable discharge on November 30, 1945 after
serving with the Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery and Tank Corp
and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion in England, Belgium, Holland
and France but not before being injured. Jack had a twin brother James
(Jimmy) who was unable to serve alongside him when it was determined
there was a problem with his heart. Jimmy was forced to remain behind
and later died from complications of rheumatic fever shortly after
Jack returned from overseas.
Upon his arrival home Jack
would spend years recovering from his injuries at the
Veteran’s Hospital (DVA) in Saint John. Following his
discharge from hospital Jack enrolled in business college where he met
the love of his life Betty, nee Cosman. They married on November 27,
1953.
Jack and Betty
settled into their beloved home near Ritchie Lake, Quispamsis where
they raised their five children. It was during this time that Jack
worked at Veteran’s Affairs in Saint John from where he
would eventually retire. Following his retirement, he always kept busy
with a variety of projects usually involving real estate. He bought
and sold properties but not before making improvements to them. He
partnered with a local contractor and developed what is now Longwood
park in Quispamsis, a property that was previously owned by his father
who operated a horse boarding facility there. He served on many
municipal committees which were devoted to developing Quispamsis from
a rural village to the town it is today. Jack was instrumental in
convincing the Provincial Government to change the
Pettingill Road from a narrow gravel road to a wider, much
safer, paved road. He was a member of Branch 58 of The Royal Canadian
Legion and a founding member of the Quispamsis United Church where he
also taught Sunday School.
Jack absolutely loved nature
and everything about it. He loved to go fishing and if there was a
single fish in the water he would be the one to catch it. As an animal
lover, you would rarely see him without a dog close by his side.
During the mid 1970’s he and his friend Harold Keirstead
built a camp on the Kingston Peninsula which generated many fond
memories for all who went there. Later in life Jack enrolled in
correspondence studies so he could learn about animal behaviour which
he did so passionately. He was an avid gardener and hobby farmer.
Nevertheless it can be said there was nothing more important to Jack
Hughes than his family. He constantly catered to his elderly
relatives, not to mention the wellbeing of his wife and children.
Being a father took priority over absolutely everything in his life.
He loved to travel, go camping, or spend winter months in Florida, but
would only enjoy it if he could be joined by his family. A life well
lived, indeed.
Jack is survived by his wife
Betty of 65 years, as well as their five children; Beth (Gary) Lawson
of Rothesay, NB, Catherine (Grant) Beckingham of Norton, NB, James
(Michelle) Hughes, Clarenville, NL, John (Melanie) Hughes of Rothesay,
NB and Terry of Saint John, NB. Also survived by his 8 grandchildren ,
Sarah Birch (Dana), Ginny Ward (Mark), Kate Robinson (Stephen),
Michael Lawson (Cat), Ashley Hewlett (Wade), Keil Beckingham, Emily
Hughes, Maggie Hughes, and 6 great grandchildren, as well as several
nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by
brothers Bernard, James, Sterling, Donald (Donald’s infant
twin sister, Joan) and his sister Kathleen “Kay”
Belmore.
The family wishes to acknowledge and
thank the staff at both Concorde and Embassy Hall for the loving care
they administered to Jack and continue to provide to
Betty.
Resting at Kennebecasis Community Funeral
Home, 152 Pettingill Road, Quispamsis (849-2119) with visiting on
Sunday from 3 – 8 PM. Funeral Service will be held at Quispamsis
United Church, 372 Hampton Road, Quispamsis, on Monday, October 22,
2018 at 11AM . Interment to take place at Ocean View Memorial Gardens.
Remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer’s Society, Parkinson’s
Canada or to Quispamsis United Church.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of John Jack W Hughes 19232018..
Death notice for the town of: Saint John, Province: Nouveau-Brunswick