Master Corporal (Retired) Hubert “Hugh” Carrigan, CD, Canadian Army

It is with deep sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our dad, Hugh Carrigan, at the Perley Health Rideau Veterans home, almost exactly 30 years after that of his wife Patricia (née Nyczai). He was 89.

Hugh leaves behind daughter Sheena (Réjean Duchesneau), and son Dennis, both of Gatineau, Quebec; his grandchildren through marriage Audrey-Anne and Jean-Michel (Ilayda Atak); his younger brother Dennis of Regina, Saskatchewan; his niece Leah (Bruce Morton), and nephew Patrick. He is also remembered by our Godmother, Fenna Lawson of Barrie, Ontario, and her children Phil and Jessie.

Hugh was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, to Hubert and Anita in the middle of the Great Depression. It was an era that had a profound effect throughout his entire life, always being cost conscious and making sure there was a roof over our heads and food on the table.

He did odd jobs during his youth and early adulthood in Regina, from bell boy at the Hotel Saskatchewan, construction with Schlumberger, selling Snap-On tools and vacuum cleaners door-to-door, and finally shoes at Kresge.

As a teenager, he joined Air Cadets, then the militia, and found the army was in his blood. He also met Patricia (Pat), the love of his life, in Regina in the 1950s. They dated for several years before marrying March 3, 1961, in Barrie, Ontario.

In 1960, Hugh joined the Regular Force and did basic training at Canadian Forces Base Borden, Ontario, graduating top recruit of his class. He then became a trucker with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC).

He loved driving. His first operational posting was with 2 Transportation Company in Soest, Germany (1964-1967). If you spent more than ten minutes chatting with Hugh, you would soon know everything there was to know about the 2.5 Ton “Deuce-and-a-half” or “Deuce” truck, and the funny adventures, and misadventures, of his Cold War experience. Upon returning to Canada, he did trade qualification courses and various jobs and, in 1971, he was appointed driver for the Commander of CFB Borden, the place we ended up calling “home”. He was also a dispatcher at Base Transport and driving instructor at the Canadian Forces School of Administration and Logistics (CFSAL). The job of which he was most proud was in Standards Company, CFSAL, writing the course syllabus and evaluations for the new trucks coming into the military. Something had to replace his beloved “Deuce” and he wanted to share his hard-gained knowledge.

Although he retired many years ago, it was heartwarming to hear just last week that he was considered a mentor to some of his trainees and colleagues, including the late Keith Lawson, Godfather to both of us.

Hugh was a proud and supportive father. He was a skating coach for Dennis’s hockey team and drove us everywhere, taking us strawberry and apple picking for mom’s jams and pies, Blue Jays baseball games, looking at big rig trucks, and Wasaga Beach for swimming and BBQs on the Hibachi. He saw us also wear uniforms in Cubs, Brownies and Guides. He sat through dance lessons and public speaking competitions. And he taught us how to drive (mirrors, signal, shoulder check, then turn) safely.

He was a proud Saskatchewan Roughriders fan. As a boy and teenager, he would often sneak into Taylor Field through a broken board in the fence. The beat cops knew all the kids in the neighbourhood and always turned a blind eye. He watched countless Jays games and was originally a Habs fan but switched his loyalty to the Senators.

After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1990, he, Mom and Dennis moved to Ottawa to be closer to Sheena. After the passing of Pat in 1995, Hugh and Dennis shared a house and as the time went on and Hugh was diagnosed with early Alzheimer’s, Dennis cared for him, for which the family is very thankful. This was particularly demanding as Hugh’s health and mobility continued to deteriorate.

Hugh moved into Perley Rideau in September last year, quickly becoming immersed in activities such as trivia, art classes, word games, and visiting the duck pond. The Perley team often remarked how kind he was, always with a bright, contagious smile and a big Helloooooo!

A few weeks ago, Hugh’s health took a turn for the worse and his body couldn’t fight another pneumonia, having had Covid twice and pneumonia several times in the last few years. He didn’t wake up one morning and six days later passed with Sheena by his side. His final days were peaceful and painless. He went well and with dignity.

R.I.P. Hugh, Dad, Mr. C.

We wish to express our extreme gratitude to the staff at Perley Health for their exceptional care, compassion and friendship given to our dad during his time there. They are the gold standard.

In recognition of the fantastic support he received from two great institutions, donations to either the Ottawa Heart Institute or to the Perley Health Foundation would be appreciated.

Family and friends are invited to Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Avenue, Ottawa) on Thursday, June 26^th, 2025, for a Visitation from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a Celebration of Life to be held from 12 to 12:30 p.m. Interment to follow at 1 p.m. at Beechwood Cemetery.