HUGHES, Minna
8 March 1926 – 26 June 2016

We are very sad to announce the passing of our mother Minna Hughes, at home in Comox, BC on June 26th 2016, at the grand age of 90. Born in England, Minna was the daughter of John Edward and Nellie May Townsend. She is predeceased by her parents, her brother Jack in New Zealand, her sisters Kay and Emilie in England, and the love of her life, her husband and our father Harry Hughes. Minna is survived by and remembered with great love by her children, daughter Pamela (husband Tony), daughter Gwyneth (husband Brian), son Simon (wife Catherine); her grand-children Katrina (husband Chris), Sean (partner Crystal), Amara, Jackson and Reid; her step-grand-children Jill and Mark (wife Stephanie); her great-grand-daughter Austyn and many far flung cousins, nieces and nephews.

Our Mum was a lady - beautiful, intelligent, strong, compassionate, capable, and loving. At the age of 18, during WWII in England, she worked for the War Dept. as a lab assistant performing quantitative analysis on the contents of bombs, which was quite hair raising at times. Post war, she served in the WAF helping with the release of the masses of wartime airmen and women. She and Dad married in 1948 and immigrated to Canada in 1952 when Dad transferred to the RCN. Life was not always easy, but she survived and thrived. She endured lean times post war, starting a new life in a new country, being married to a submariner, military moves while her husband was at sea, and throughout it all, raised a strong, close knit family. She and Dad were a team. She made his dreams come true including supporting him thru building his yacht in the back yard and sailing with him for many winters in the warm, southern waters.

Mum always thought of others first and looked for the best in people and any life challenge that arose. Mum loved nature, flowers, birds, reading, sudoku and crosswords. She had a head full of obscure facts – in the days before Google, her family would often call her for answers to puzzles or to resolve an argument.

Mum spent most of her life living in Nova Scotia and that is where her heart is even now. The house in Mill Village was their dream home and a place of much love and happiness. They loved to host family and friends with their most excellent dinner parties. We will miss Mum always, but it is comforting to think of her reunited with Dad, sitting together in a beautiful flower garden, sipping a sherry and reminiscing of their wonderful life together, the family that loves them and their many, many close friends.

Mum wished to be cremated and did not want a formal service. Instead, it is time to raise your glasses and toast the life of a special lady, a loving wife and mother, and a dear friend to many.

Thank-you for your thoughts and condolences. Minna’s family can be reached at her mailing address in Comox or via email at condolencesminna@shaw.ca. Finally, we would like to thank the medical professionals in Comox who helped us keep Mum at home, as she wished.