Rev Hugh A. A. Rose

Dec 07, 2022

May 2, 1929 - December 2, 2022

Died suddenly and peacefully in Ottawa with Sheila by his side, as they were throughout their 61 years of marriage.

Father to Hugh Michael (Deirdre Speers) of Ottawa and Margaret Catherine (Matthew Zadow) of Brussels, Belgium. A proud grandfather to Malcolm, Maeve, and Duncan. Predeceased by sisters Nancy McNee (London) and Ina Hunt (Massachusetts).

Hugh’s calling and profession included a half-century as a United Church minister in pulpits in St Adele, Smiths Falls, Toronto, St Catharines, and Regina. Since retirement, he was an active member at Emanuel Church in Land O Lakes, which meant he continued his ministry as a church member and storyteller. He travelled extensively for meetings of the World Council of Churches in the 70’s and 80’s where he first developed a love for warm climates. He was particularly proud of his involvement with creating the 1971 Joint (red) Hymn Book of the Anglican and United Churches of Canada. The ministry wasn’t his first choice as he started at UofT in Dentistry, then graduated in Arts in the Class of ‘50 (Phi Gamma Delta). Graduate and Divinity studies followed at McGill and Edinburgh.

In retirement Sheila and Hugh loved to travel to places such as India, New Zealand, Australia, Tonga, Thailand, China, Europe, the U.S., and almost every state of Mexico. Hugh’s main love of place began when they purchased crown land on Skootamatta Lake in 1962 and built a simple cottage that evolved and grew into the beautiful lakeside home they enjoyed in retirement for the last 28 years. His wonderful friends who make up the lake community made the cottage feel more of a home than anywhere else.

Friends and family are invited to remember Hugh with a service celebrating his life and faith at the West Chapel of Hulse, Playfair &McGarry at 150 Woodroffe Avenue (at Richmond Road) in Ottawa on Saturday, December 10 at 1 pm. Reception to follow. Livestream through: https://www.hpmcgarry.ca

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Ottawa Heart Institute and think of Hugh walking along a Pacific coast beach in southern Mexico on a hot winter’s day.