Louise Hughes

SLINGERLANDS, NY - Louise A. Hughes, 85, was welcomed into Heaven on Wednesday, April 4, 2012. A native of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Louise was a longtime resident of Olean, New York, where she and her husband of 62 years, Dr. William F. Hughes, raised their six loving and devoted children. More recently, they have been living in Slingerlands, N.Y. Louise received her Nursing Degree from Georgetown University where she began her career as a pediatric nurse. Louise was a proud and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She had a strong, calm, loving presence and was dearly loved by all her children and grandchildren. She was happiest when spending time with her family, including her sixteen grandchildren, and always remembered their birthdays with packages of fresh baked cookies. Louise had a life long love of playing bridge and was a member of numerous bridge clubs both in Olean and elsewhere. Louise was a devout Catholic and member of St. John's Church, Olean, N.Y. She served as a Eucharistic Minister and was involved in numerous other parish missions. She was steadfast in her commitment to the community through her involvement in the hospital auxiliary and other activities. One of her favorites was the Franciscan Mother House. In the mid 1990s, she and Bill were honored to be chosen as Citizen of the Year in Olean. She will be greatly missed by all those fortunate to have known her. She is survived by her children, Dr. Kathleen McCarthy and her husband Joseph of Wayland, MA; Dr. Joseph Hughes and his wife Diana of Cooperstown, NY; Dr. Stephen Hughes and his wife Cindy of Slingerlands, NY; Mary Hughes Dirr of Cooperstown, NY; Jane Hughes and her husband David DeFilippo of Milton, MA; and William Hughes and his wife Kshama of Potomac, MD. She is also survived by her grandchildren for whom she always held a special place in her heart: Andrew, Kathryn, Stephanie, Emilee, Megan, Molly, Elizabeth, Peter, Lauren, Matthew, Monica, Marcus, Isabella, Julia, Tara Louise and Nicholas. She was pre-deceased by her brothers Herb, Fred, John, and her sister Rita. She is survived by her sisters Betty, Joan, Eleanor, and Helen. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 11am at The Parish of Mater Christi, 40 Hopewell Street, Albany, NY 12208. Memorial contributions may be made in Louise's name to Saint Elizabeth's Motherhouse, P.O. Box 86, Allegany, NY 14706 or to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 811 West Evergreen Avenue, Suite 204, Chicago, IL, 60642 (http://pulmonaryfibrosis.donorpages.com/Tribute/LouiseAHughes).