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My conversation with Hector E. Chugg
August 6, 2008
I spent an enjoyable part of the afternoon today talking with Hector Chugg and Barbara Tierney Chugg. Hector and Barbara graciously endured my hour of questions and provided many fascinating Chugg tidbits. This document relates those details.
Hector and Barbara lived for some years on Jockvale Road before moving to an addition to their daughter’s home in Renfrew Ontario. For awhile they had a place on the water in Pembroke as well.
Hector worked for the Borden Corporation for 25 years doing deliveries. He then moved on to the Canadian Department of Agriculture farming on the experimental farm. Barbara worked in several areas in addition to raising her two daughters, Barbara Elizabeth (Beth) and Anne Marie. Barbara worked for the Bank of Canada and Met Life before spending 25 years as a Library Technician at Algonquin College. She loved working with the students on their research. The work was exciting and fascinating. She missed her work upon retirement, but is now enjoying watching her grandchildren grow.
Hector remembers separate visits from his Uncle Wallace and his Uncle Earl when Hector was a young boy. The uncles had come up to Ontario to visit their brother William Hector (Hector) and his family. Hector (junior) said that he was so young that he could hardly remember their faces. Hector also said that his grandfather John Chugg was a very old man when he died. When I mentioned the article about John’s brush with death with the tornado, Hector commented that John had several occasions where he was nearly killed.
Hector was able to share several details about Harry Chugg (John Henry). After his wife died, Harry apparently remarried. He moved out to Carsonby, west of Ottawa. Hector was surprised to learn that the obituary for Earl Chugg mentioned that Earl’s granddaughter Sharon Mitchell lived in Carson or possibly Carsonby too, at the same time as Harry. Hector also confirmed that his Uncle Harry was a painter his entire life. I mentioned to Hector that Harry’s crypt is not inscribed while his wife Olive’s is. I said that this always seemed to be the case in the Chugg family, that they took care of others before themselves.
Hector confirmed that his siblings included James (deceased) Margaret, Patricia, Evelyn and Carrie (Carolyn). He also said that Barbara is the computer person in the family.
Barbara shared with me that their daughter Anne Marie and husband Colin Slight have four children, Adam is the oldest, then Jennifer (the singer), Kelly Anne, and finally Victoria. (all beautiful names!) They enjoy watching these children grow and express their personalities. Colin is a member of the Ontario Provincial Police force.
Barbara also shared that her cousin Father Bill Dewan was located for awhile at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. This was followed by my mentioning that my wife, Marybeth cantored at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for several years. She also has an uncle, Father Tom Tierney, a Paulist priest who was in New York State and then was transferred to Houston. The Tierney family in and around Fallowfield, Ontario is a very large and historic family of the parish.
Barbara bravely shared the life of her deceased daughter, Beth. Beth died in her sleep at the age of 46 from an asthma attack. The asthma was a later life onset. Beth worked at Algonquin College as an administrative secretary for one of the professors. Her son Michael was in twelfth grade at the time. She had not been feeling well and had visited the college clinic on the day before she died. Beth’s husband Brian has moved on with his life. Her son, Michael (aged 22) is out on his own and working.
I should mention that Grace Peake’s, youngest daughter’s daughter (Grace’s granddaughter),used to live in Barrhaven, where Jockvale used to be. Her name is Sharon MacAllister. She left photos related to Grace Peake’s life in the mailbox of Hector and Barbara Chugg. I have asked Barbara for photocopies so that I can work on identifying them. I also gave Barbara and Hector the wiki address and my email so that we may communicate further.
I have several more questions for Hector about his memories of family but will have to ask these questions at a later date.
-Michael Philip Chugg
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