Obituary of Paul Melvin Hughes

Peacefully at the Provincial Palliative Care Center on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, of Paul Melvin Hughes of Stratford, age 84 years. Paul grew up on a farm and was number three of thirteen children born to Charlie and Loretta (nee Ostridge) Hughes of Fort Augustus, PEI. Like many young men in rural PEI in the 1950’s, Paul left school at a young age and began working as a farmhand on local farms. He attended the Provincial Vocational School to study plumbing, and at the age of 19, he left PEI to find adventure and work. He worked in Hamilton, Ontario, Marathon, Ontario, and Ocean Falls, British Columbia.

The draw of PEI, and a beautiful girl from Johnson’s River, called Paul back home for good in 1961. Paul married Helen Power in 1963 and the young couple settled in Tracadie, PEI, and later moved to Mermaid, Johnson’s River and Stratford.

Paul was a lifelong plumber and independent business owner. With his wife by his side, he operated Paul Hughes Plumbing and Heating and Paul Hughes Septic Tank Service. Up until the month before his death he could be found riding shotgun in the septic tank truck with his son, Jeff to pump a “bed of roses”, or talking about which cottages needed to be “opened up” for long time clients coming home for the summer. But it wasn’t all just work. Paul and Helen enjoyed an active social life in the community, camping with the kids in the summers, travel to far flung destinations like Hawaii, Canary Islands and Costa Rica, and RV life in Florida. Paul loved a good story that ended with a laugh, nicknames, driving his vintage VW Bug, listening to fiddle music, picking berries, and growing his own vegetables. Most of all, he loved his kids: Pat (Janice Rose), Corena (Greg Arsenault), and Jeff (Shellie Stewart); being a grandfather to Meaghan, Jordan, Logan, Alex, Hallie, and Dean, and great grandfather to Carmen, Ross, Helena and Benedicte.

He is lovingly remembered by his sisters, Imelda Squires, Margaret Hughes, Shirley Bradley, Helen Coffin, Mary Affleck, Eileen Curran, and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He was predeceased by infant brother Donnie, brothers Francis, Earl, Vince, Reggie, and sister, Aletha Doyle. The family wishes to thank the dedicated healthcare professionals at the QEH and the wonderful staff of the Provincial Palliative Care Center for the expert care that Paul received throughout his cancer diagnosis.

Resting at Hillsboro Funeral Home from where visiting hours will be held Friday, June 30, 2023 from 5 to 7 pm.  A Funeral Mass will be celebrated from Our Lady of the Assumption Church, Stratford on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at 10:30 am.  Interment will take place at Mt. Ryan Cemetery, Johnston’s River.  Memorial donations may be made online to the Provincial Palliative Care Centre.