Obituary of E. Norman Hughes

E. Norman Hughes E. Norman Hughes died peacefully at age 96 on Dec. 3, 2020 at his home in Bella Terra Senior Living Community in Jackson, NJ. Born in Blackwood, NJ, he lived most of his life in Philadelphia, along with his wife of 70 years, Irene, who predeceased him in 2016. Norm joined the United States Marine Corps in December 1941, three weeks after Pearl Harbor and only a month after he turned seventeen. A truly distinguished member of the greatest generation, he saw combat as an automatic rifleman at Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Tinian and Saipan. He was honorably discharged from Earle Naval Station in January, 1946. He spent the majority of his professional life as a mortgage broker employed by Boulevard Mortgage Company in Philadelphia. He served for many years on the Executive Board of the Northeast Philadelphia Realtors Association and was a member of the Optimists Club. A lifelong Episcopalian, he served as a vestryman at St. Ambrose Church, Christ Church and St. Ambrose, and the Church of the Resurrection in Philadelphia. Norm was devoted to his family and friends, and he was loved much in return. He enjoyed fishing, card parties, Sunday drives and the music of Patsy Cline. His family has countless fond memories of days at the beach, where he taught them to body surf and had names for different types of waves (e.g. “squizzlers”). He was always ready to lend a helping hand and to give a ride whenever and wherever you needed. At Bella Terra, he was known for greeting one and all and for making people laugh. He is survived by his son Dr. Edward Hughes and his wife Margaret of Amelia Island, FL, by his daughter Kathleen Whall and husband Joseph of Freehold, NJ, by his granddaughter Kristin Cooper and husband Adam and great-grandson, Owen of Sunnyvale, CA, by his grandson James Whall and wife Kelli Comegys of Mt. Laurel, NJ and by his granddaughter Julia Whall and husband Zachary Wolfman of New York City. A private family service will be held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Freehold. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society.