Obituary of Hugh Hanbury Munroe

MUNROE, Hugh Hanbury July 9, 1923 – April 28, 2016 Hugh passed away peacefully on April 28. He is survived by his devoted wife of 61 years, Louise, children Lauraine (Paul Woods), Christina (Jim Wetmore), Robert (Gisèle) and James (Ava Kotler), and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by daughter Julia (1963) and his two brothers, William and Richard. Born in Montreal to Dr. J. Garfield Munroe and the former Edith McBride, Hugh came with his family to his mother’s hometown, London, in 1968. They settled in a Northridge home that Hugh loved living in until late last year, when health issues required him to move into a care facility. A lifelong devotee of vocal and instrumental music, from Bach to barbershop, Hugh played the tuba and other wind instruments. He shared his vocal talents – as well as encouragement and musical guidance – with a wide range of choirs and award-winning barbershop ensembles. He helped find tuba players to join him in the Stratford Concert Band and sang bass, baritone and tenor in many of London’s Roman Catholic Church choirs, retiring reluctantly from singing at the age of 88. Hugh’s working life in London was as an English teacher at Clarke Road Secondary School from 1968 until his retirement in 1984. He loved the outdoors, particularly canoeing, hiking and observing and feeding birds. He believed in physical fitness, and maintained a regular workout routine at the gym until well into his 80s. The family would like to thank the pleasant and hard working staff at Chartwell London. Visitors will be received at John T. Donohue Funeral Home, 362 Waterloo St. at King St., on Tuesday afternoon from 2 to 4 p.m. A Memorial Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Peter’s Basilica, corner of Richmond St., and Dufferin Ave.,