By Steve Jalsevac
TORONTO, July 19, 2010 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Jim Hughes is vice-president of International Right to Life and the president of Canada's national pro-life organization, Campaign Life Coalition. For Jim, other than his wonderful wife Ginny (Virginia), his mother has been a major inspiration and support in his life. Mary Florence Hughes passed away on Saturday in her 101st year and will be greatly missed by Jim and his family, his sister Pat and the extended Hughes family. In addition, the Canadian and international pro-life movements owe a debt of gratitude to this great, always faithful Irish Catholic lady for having raised and strongly supported a son who has played such a substantial role in the movement for the past 30 years.
Mary Hughes lived with a group of close friends in her parish's senior citizens apartment. She was admitted to a Toronto hospital for a routine procedure a few weeks ago, but quickly became seriously ill. During her subsequent end-of-life trial she never lost her spunk, sense of humour and charitable demeanor.
An example of Mary's humour occurred last month, when Jim visited with her after being unable to get to his barber for some time. His mother indicated she noticed his long hair by simply remarking, “did your barber die?” She and her friends at the senior citizens' apartment called themselves the “coffin dodgers.” At the hospital she was becoming weary of the stuggle and told Jim that God must have lost her address and did not know where to find her to take her home.
Mary never re-married after her husband died 64 years ago and she raised her son Jim and daughter Pat alone. Her Catholic faith sustained her and she did not often miss daily mass even up to a few weeks ago. At her wake, one could not help but notice a photograph of her reaching out with a big smile on her face as she shook the hand of Mother Teresa when Mother was in Ottawa for a giant pro-life rally arranged by Jim in 1988.
Mentally, “all there” and bright to the end, Mary carried on her usual life mission while in the hospital. Despite her considerable sufferings and not being one to complain or criticize, she made sure to thank every hospital staff person or family or friends each time they came to her bedside for whatever reason. She especially loved the many caring visits from her grandchildren and other young family members these past few weeks, but told Jim she was concerned that they were not offering to pray with her. Her worry was not at all the loss of prayers for herself, but the possible lack of emphasis on the spiritual in their lives that this might indicate. The situation was quickly resolved once the children were advised about Mary's concern and they gladly prayed with her.
On Saturday morning Jim and Ginny were called and told that Mary was failing. They arrived at her bedside only a few moments after her death. Jim looked down and remarked, “You're not lost anymore. He found your address and took you home.”
There is vastly more good than can be said about Mary Hughes and which will be said at and after her funeral on Tuesday morning at St. Joseph's Church at 11 a.m. in Toronto.
See the Toronto Star obituary notice for Mary Hughes.