Obituary of Hugh Robert Peden

March 5, 1937 – Edmonton, Alberta

June 5, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

Captain Hugh Robert Peden, of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully at Colonel Belcher Retirement Residence on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the age of 86 years.

Hugh was born in Edmonton, AB, on March 5, 1937.

Hugh attended HMCS Venture, an RCN Junior Officer training establishment, from 1954 to 1956, after which he served in the Royal Canadian Navy until 1975. It was during this time he met Mary Elizabeth Eleanor Walsh on a blind date, and they married on July 2, 1962. Over the years they lived in Victoria, BC, Edmonton, AB, Halifax, NS, and Ottawa, ON, only to finally settle down in St. John’s, Topsail, Newfoundland with their five children.

Following his retirement from the navy in 1975, Hugh was employed by the St. John’s Port Corporation as Harbor Master where he entertained dignitaries from all over the world. He then joined the Department of Veteran Affairs and was instrumental in setting up and running The Last Post Fund Newfoundland location with his wife, Eleanor. He was proud and honored to serve the military families of veterans who served in the great wars.

In 1996, Hugh retired and a few years later, he and Eleanor moved to Kelowna, BC, where they always wanted to live. It was here that they were able to spend time with their grandchildren who visited them from Langley, BC, and Calgary, AB. He loved to spend time with his ‘rascal’ boys and get ‘smoochy kisses’ from the girls.

Hugh had a variety of interests, and hobbies throughout his life. As a child, he and his father would take part in pigeon races, and often told stories about these times. His first love though was trains which led to his lifelong hobby in model railroads. As an adult, he had ‘train rooms’ in all his homes, and he welcomed his kids and grandkids to help clean the rails and run the trains. He always had an interest in history, especially of the Canadian Navy, and was an avid reader of westerns, especially Louie L’Amor. 

It was later in life that he developed an interest in gardening and loved to spend time tending his flowers, and planting vegetables in his greenhouses. He took great pride in his peonies, and his ‘squeaky beans’ are now legendary in the Peden family.

As a result of his interests, Hugh had a large library of books, and magazines about the navy, ships, trains, Canadian railways, gardening, and novels of many genres.

Hugh is survived by his four children, Mike (Carol), Danielle, Nicole (Jeremy), and Roxanne (Frank); as well as his four grandchildren Katelyn, Ryan, Jake, Quinn, and Cooper. Hugh is predeceased by his wife Eleanor, his son David, and his brother Daniel.

In living memory of Hugh Peden, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Heritage, 1708 – 16th Avenue NW, Calgary, AB, T2M 0L7, Telephone: 403-243-8200.