Thomas William Huggins

On Saturday, February 28, 2015, our Divine Father called his faithful servant Thomas William Huggins, husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, peacefully home to his heavenly kingdom. Son of the late Arthur Huggins and Ellen Flynn. Beloved husband of the late (Patricia) Maeve, dear father of Ann Pickett (Joseph) of Ohio, Oonagh Fitzpatrick (Robert) of Muskoka, Aileen Laird (Gerry) of Northern Ireland. Lovingly remembered by his grandchildren, Thomas Picket (Erinn), Deirdre Dobos (Jeremy), Michael, and Patrick Pickett (Nicole), Mairead, Kealan, and Siobhan Hamilton (Dave), Geoffrey, Aiofe Kerr (Wayne), and Aiobheann Laird. His great grandchildren Braden, Neeve, Aeden, Declan, Anya, Liam, Ronan and Landon. Survived by his many beloved nieces and nephews.

Predeceased by his wife Maeve in 2007, his son Thomas in 1955 (buried in Egypt), his sister Eileen and brother John.

Thomas was born in Pembroke Dock, Wales in 1920. He joined the British Army in the Royal Electrical & Mechanical Engineers Division (R.E.M.E.) and quickly rose through the ranks becoming a Major. A veteran of the 2nd World War, he saw action in Dover, Anzio Italy and North Africa. He married Maeve McGrath in 1948 and they spent the first 18 years of their married life deployed in Singapore, Egypt, Cyprus, Libya, Gibraltar, France, and Germany.

In 1967, after early retirement, Thomas brought his family to Canada. He became a member of the Legion and never missed a Remembrance Day celebration. He was a 3rd Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Holy Name Society. Thomas was a dedicated volunteer for St. Vincent de Paul Society and could be found walking the halls of St. Mary’s and Grand River hospitals delivering communion as a Pastoral visitor.

He will be remembered for his deep faith and great love for his family. If anyone ever needed help, no matter what the “hour”, Thomas was there. The consummate gentleman, he was never at a loss for a kind word for those he encountered. We will miss the presence of Tom’s calm spirit, his gentle nature and pure G-Dad wisdom. Mom, Tommy, your parents, sister and brother are waiting to hold you again. May God eternally bless and keep you in his light.

A very special thank you to all the wonderful staff at Castle Peak, Bracebridge, for all of their tremendous care and friendship.

Friends may call at the Ratz-Bechtel Funeral Home, 621 King St. West, on Thursday evening from 6-9pm. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday morning at 10:30am at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Lourdes St. Waterloo, with Fr. Ted Hughes officiating. Cremation to follow.

The Huggins daughters and their families encourage all of Tom’s friends and extended families to attend a “Wake” immediately after the funeral @ the Delta Waterloo hotel 110 Erb St. W.