Elizabeth Anne Grant McHugh of Bridgehampton died November 28, 2017, while visiting her daughter in Staunton, Virginia. She was 90.
Born January 16, 1927, in Kilburn (New Brunswick), Canada, to Leigh and Elsie (née Gaudin) Grant, she graduated from Perth High School in 1944 and married John McHugh in 1945; they later divorced. The couple moved to Bridgehampton in 1956. In the early years of their marriage, she helped her husband on their family farm. Over five years, the couple had two children. As her children grew, Mrs. McHugh worked many jobs outside the home including time as a cook at Crasper’s Restaurant and The Stage Door, and cleaning homes for many summer residents. She also worked at Grant’s, a local department store, first starting on the floor and then moving to the office. When Grant’s was closed, it was replaced by Wilco and later Caldor, both of which kept her on staff.
Mrs. McHugh loved to work outside, survivors said. For many years, she had a large garden at her daughter’s house and enjoyed working in it daily. She would top off each night with a walk in the fields. She enjoyed cooking, especially cookies for her grandchildren, and making hats and mittens for her granddaughters’ day care. As a member of the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, she was known as a small, quiet, sweet woman.
She is survived by sisters, Marion Weaver of Florida, Dorothy DeMerchant, Audrey Walsh and Joan Good, all of Canada; brothers, Fred Grant of Maine, Keith Grant, Gary Grant and wife Margaret, all of Canada; a brother-in-law, Dennis Finnamore of Canada; her children, Sue Guyer and husband George “Yogi” of Virginia, and Dave McHugh and wife Cathy of Springs; grandchildren, Robert Guyer, Benjamin McHugh and Hailey London, Shannon and View El-View, Brendon and Kelly McHugh; great-grandchildren, Annyah McHugh-El-View and Kaelob and Cassidee McHugh; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by a sister, Linda Finnamore; a brother, Robert Grant; a grandson, George “Chuck” Guyer Jr.; brothers-in-law, Jack DeMerchant, Harry Weaver, Leo DeMerchant, and Bill Walsh; and sisters-in-law, Lois Grant and Carole Grant.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, January 20, at 10:30 a.m. at the Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, with burial immediately following at Edgewood Cemetery. There will also be a service this summer in Canada for Mrs. McHugh’s family. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton.
Memorial donations may be made to Augusta Health Foundation, attn: Hospices of Shenandoah, PO Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939; Riverheads Fire Department, PO Box 39, Mint Spring, VA 24463; Bridgehampton Fire Department, PO Box 1280, Bridgehampton, NY 11932; or the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons, PO Box 901, Wainscott, NY 11937.