Rev. Hugh L. Nugent

Rev. Hugh L. Nugent was known as many things to many people. He was a loved one, a friend, and someone special. To family and friends who knew him best, Hugh will be remembered as a very exceptional person.

      Hugh was born on August 2, 1931 at Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in Orillia, Ontario. He was the son of Lawrence Ernest Nugent and Jessie Marie Nugent (Cockburn). Hugh grew up in on a poultry farm and market garden farm on the edge of Orillia - now West St. North, in Orillia.

      Hugh was raised with two siblings. He had a younger sister Anne Marie and a younger brother Donald Joseph. Hugh was usually involved in all sorts of activities with his siblings. He and his siblings experienced rivalries typical of a growing family, but they shared many life experiences over the years.

      As a young boy, Hugh had a number of interests. Like most children, he enjoyed playing and making up games. He was curious about the world around him and was often eager to explore it. Hugh was an active child who loved to ski and ride his bike. Hugh's memorable achievements included skipping a grade because he was so advanced in reading at Pine Grove School, a two room schoolhouse. However, to Hugh, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with his friends.

      A typical teenager, Hugh had a fairly happy high school experience, making that critical transition from adolescence to adulthood. He graduated from Orillia District Collegiate in 1949. He enjoyed some classes more than others, having favorite subjects and teachers. His favourite class in high school was Languages. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Miss Halford.

      Hugh enjoyed his college years, which may have been a challenge with all of the academics, responsibilities, and the sudden freedom that accompanied them, but Hugh was able to manage the balancing act. He earned his Honours B. A. In Modern Languages and Literature at Victoria College, U. of T. He also pursued graduate school at Knox College, U. of T. To become a minister and later earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree.

      Always considered a “good” friend to those he knew, Hugh enjoyed a broad group of acquaintances and several very close friends during his lifetime. While growing up, some of his best friends were David Dudenhoffer and the Rochon family. Later in life, he became friends with Mac Shields and Biff Jarvis.

      On October 10, 1959 Hugh exchanged wedding vows with Frances Della Clark at Central Presbyterian Church of Brantford, Ontario. Empathic and loyal, Hugh was committed to making his new family happy.

      Hugh worked hard to be a good father to his children and he did his best to fulfill their needs. Hugh was blessed with five children, Cathy, Margaret, Joe, Nancy and Kerry. Another blessing for Hugh was the gift of eleven grandchildren, Laurelyn, Jessica, Alanna, James, Emily, Mandy, Matthew, Eric, Kaitlyn, Joshua and Ariana.

      Fortunately, Hugh enjoyed what he did for a living. Showing a strong work ethic, Hugh worked diligently and did his best to succeed in his career. His primary occupation was a Minister. He was employed for 40 years by the Presbyterian Church in Canada. Hugh always sought to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

      Hugh enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were learning languages, gardening, crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, music and camping. He was content to enjoy his favorite pastimes alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Hugh found pleasure in sports. Recreational sports included biking and walking. Hugh was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he had the chance to do so.

      Throughout his life, Hugh was a doer and was always actively involved in professional and community organizations. In high school, Hugh was a member of the Christian Fellowship. In college, Hugh joined the Knox College Student Choir including a Western Canada choir tour. Throughout his later years, Hugh was an active member of the Canadian Bible Society, Local ministerial associations and the secretary of Camp Kintail maintenance committee.

      Hugh’s faith was important to him. He was a Presbyterian Minister for 40 years.

      Though he never set out to gain individual recognition, Hugh was given accolades for his many and varied accomplishments throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included Moderator of Hamilton-London Synod.

      Hugh enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. It was a chance for him to renew and relax, to visit new places and experience new things. Favorite vacations included his mission trip to Nicaragua, bus tours of Great Britain, of Atlantic Canada including Newfoundland and Labrador and of Arizona as well as numerous summer camping trips to Provincial Parks.

      Hugh was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. His family was rounded out by his many cats through the years.

      When Hugh’s retirement finally arrived in 1996, he was well prepared. In retirement, he found new pleasure in volunteering for Habitat For Humanity and taking spanish and computer classes. He became an Elder at Central Church and remained active in the presbytery and a member of the Brantford Garden Club. Even in retirement, Hugh continued to stay in touch with his old friends while making plenty of new acquaintances. Hugh was active in his new community and felt fulfilled with the opportunities retirement offered him.

      Hugh passed away on March 20, 2014 at Brierwood Gardens - Long Term Care. He is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren. Services were held at Central Presbyterian Church. Hugh was laid to rest in Oakhill Cemetery.

      Simply stated, Hugh was a good and kind person, an individual who will for all time be remembered by his family and friends as being a caring and giving person, someone who was a vital part of their lives. Hugh leaves behind him a legacy of life-long friendships and many cherished memories. Everyone whose life he touched will always remember Rev. Hugh L. Nugent.

Memories of Dad

For my father, the start of spring seemed to come with St. Patrick’s day and we’d come down the stairs and he’d be sitting at the table with his porridge and toast and he’d say, “Top of the morning to you !” then something in Gaellic (and when we were little we’d say it back and laugh, and as teens we’d roll our eyes) and after breakfast he’d putter with his house-plants and he’d care for each one and he liked his quiet moments and his work in the study and in the evenings he’d visit people at the hospital and the families of the congregation and he’d know all of the details of the complicated family inter-connections in the communities we lived in and he’d say, “You know John Q., who’s wife was a MacIntyre, second cousin of John G.” and it would confuse us, but they’d understand that he cared who they were and he’d ask about their families and he cared about their lives, and he’d marry the young couples and he’d bury their loved-ones – it was difficult for us to understand what that meant, how hard it was, what it meant to the community and to people. And they’d say at church teas, “you must be proud of your father” and I was ...

And there’d be chaos in our house on Sunday mornings: He’d have bulletins to organize, 5 children and several cats under-foot, and he’d shave in his underwear and he’d crank the gestetner and think about his sermon, finished after mid-night the night before, and I loved cranking the gestetner with him to make copies of the bulletin, and he’d rush around in his minister’s collar and gown and he’d always have several churches and services and as a rural minister that’s just how it is so we’d have a late lunch and some family time, then he’d snooze before dinner to recuperate from it all and I think he loved being a minister, as he loved being a husband and a father.

And kitten season was exciting in our house – it’s something he’d known as a boy with the barn cats on his parent’s farm and he’d be in there with the mother cat and new kittens and he’d act as a kind of mid-wife and count them with us and help name each as they mewed and mewed and he understood it was one of those magical things you can share with a child and both enjoy, and he’d often say, “If you’d have told me I’d be so lucky as to have 11 grand-children I would have never believed it,” and he was a loving grand-father and he loved to do puzzles and play games and he’d play crokinole and checkers and scrabble with the kids and there are countless photos of them together – and in some he’s quite serious, thinking out his move, but in most he’s smiling and laughing and it’s in these moments that he’ll live for our kids – ever present at their awards and recitals and graduations … and I taught my son to tie a tie this morning and it reminded me how my father’d taught me, and he’d have loved that moment.

Dad enjoyed the simple things: a good glass of water, a garden in bloom, walks and crosswords and watching a train. And the summer months were family time – so many memories of car trips and camping: hikes to see wildlife and scenic views, swims in the lake with Dad doing his squint-eyed dog paddle, singing and joking by the campfire or listening for bears and wolves, and we’d have our own worship services on the rocks by the water ...

He played so many roles for our family: chauffeur, teacher, family historian, but he had many roles others here would know him for too and he loved to volunteer, was proud of the work that he did for the church and the Bible Society, Habitat for Humanity and the Senior’s homes, and he liked visiting as an elder and hearing reminiscences, and when he reminisced himself he’d talk of Pine Grove school, the two-room school house where he skipped grade and learned to knit socks for the troops in the war. And he loved his parents, and I think that his sister was probably his best friend, and it must have been hard when he left to university in Toronto. And I know how proud they must have been when he was ordained as a minister, and then married my mother, the love of his life, and I love the joy in his eyes in those old wedding photos, my mother in her wedding dress and my father beaming as they drive off on their journey that would become our family ...

These past years have been hard – but he liked his walks and his bingo and he’d often fall asleep but still loved conversation and we’ll miss it and we’ll miss him … and I know he’s with us and in us and smiling down upon us, both now and forever ...

Thank you Dad, and thank you all of you!

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Nugent, Rev. Hugh Lawrence., B.A., B.D.:

Passed away peacefully on March 20th, 2014 at Brierwood Gardens LTC in Brantford, Ontario, in his 83rd year. Born in Orillia, he attended Pine Grove School, a two-room schoolhouse. He graduated from O.C.I.V.S. and Victoria College and Knox College at U of T. Ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church in Canada in 1956. He was a devoted minister for 40 years to the charges of: Scotstown, Milan and Megantic in the Eastern Townships of Quebec; Chatsworth, Williamsford and Dornoch near Owen Sound; Wyoming, Camlachie and Bear Creek near Sarnia; Ripley and Ashfield on Lake Huron; and Fort Frances in northwestern Ontario’s Rainy River district. He retired to Brantford in 1996. Hugh will also be remembered as an avid gardener, enthusiastic and tireless volunteer, as well as a loving father, grandfather, husband and friend. Survived by Frances (nee Clark) Nugent, his wife of 54 years; children – Cathy (Dan) Rudell, Margaret (Bill) Woods, Joe (Sue) Nugent, Nancy (Rob) McNamara and Kerry (Bill) Weir; 11 grandchildren and brother-in-law Bill Horne. Predeceased by his sister Anne Horne and brother Donald Nugent. The family will receive friends at the “THORPE BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME AND CHAPEL”, 96 West Street, Brantford, on Monday, March 24th from 2-4 & 7-9pm. A Funeral Service will be held at Central Presbyterian Church, 97 Wellington Street, Brantford, on Tuesday, March 25th at 2:00pm. Cremation to follow. As expressions of sympathy, donations to Central Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund, The Canadian Bible Society or the charity of your choice would be appreciated by the family. Online condolence may be made at www.thorpebrothersfh.com.