Obituary of Gene Stanley Hudson

In Loving Memory of Gene Stanley Hudson

Gene Stanley Hudson, age 89, passed away peacefully at the Grand Manan Hospital on August 29, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Dad’s pride and joy was his family. He was a devoted husband of 52 years to his late wife, our mom, Cheryl Hudson.

He is survived by his younger sister, Margaret (Arnold) McAllister, and his sisters-in-law, Eunice Hudson and Corrie Hudson.

He will be lovingly remembered by his children: Kevin (Dafne) Hudson, Ron (Angie) Hudson, Gillian (John) James, Susan (Morton) Benson, and Ruth (Shane) Boulter.

His grandchildren: Adina (Tom) Brown, Ashley (Mike) Taylor, Caleb (Sable) Benson, Casey (Winter) Benson, Colby (Kate) Benson, Reuben (Alannah) Hudson, Jessica (Chris) Sarquis, Steven (Jess) Hudson, Samantha (Jay) Parnell, Elyssa (Josh) Grissell, Devin Hudson, Mallory McCrea, Chris (Sonya) McCrea, Rachel Boulter, and Luke Boulter.

His great-grandchildren: Cassidy, Aleaha, Grace, Abby, Neveah, Aiden, Ellie, Harper, Abby, Hazel, Hudson, Aurora, Hooper, Clyde, Jimmy, Ally, Tayla, Lachlan, Kaleb, Conrad, Bailey, Poppi Rose, Ezra, and Syrilla. And one great-great-grandson, Eben.

Dad was predeceased by his parents, John and Doris Hudson, and his siblings, Jack, Eleanor, Ted, Adrian, Ralph, Dorothy, and Douglas.

A Life of Service and Adventure

Dad took Mom and their 10-month-old son, Kevin, to Africa on a one-way ticket. They landed in Livingston, Zambia, and drove to Bethesda Mission Station in Zimbabwe, where they began an absolutely incredible life of service and adventure. They arrived with one baby and eventually returned to Canada with five children.

Dad served as a missionary in Africa from 1962 to 1978. In 1978, he became pastor of Seal Cove Wesleyan Church on Grand Manan, serving there until 1986.

That same year, Dad, Mom, and Ruth went to Australia as missionaries, where they served until 1990.

After a year back on Grand Manan, Dad, Mom, and Ruth moved to Prince Edward Island, where Dad pastored Island Wesleyan Church from 1991 to 1998.

Dad retired from pastoral ministry, and after Mom’s passing in 2013, he moved back to Grand Manan. In retirement, he faithfully visited seniors and continued to participate in Seal Cove Wesleyan Church—not as the pastor, but simply as a parishioner and friend.

The Anchorage Trails

One of Dad’s other great passions was the countless hours he spent volunteering on the Anchorage trails. Over the years, you could find him there with a lawnmower, a whippersnipper, or simply walking the trails with his trusty walking stick and his “packback” filled with duct tape and toilet paper. He and his dear friends, Allison Ingalls and Harold Price, walked the trails every day. Together, they developed the “signing tree” and even managed to tame many aggressive squirrels. The Anchorage later honoured Dad by naming the Hudson Trail after him. He was so proud of that trail, and it meant so much to him.

A Life Well Lived

As Dad developed dementia in his later years, his caregiver, Cathy Linton, became a near and dear friend to him. They shared a very special bond, and our family will be forever grateful to Cathy for the love, kindness, and care she gave Dad—far above and beyond the job.

Dad lived his life full of joy and with a deep passion for God, people, and travel. He loved deeply and gave himself selflessly to improve the lives of everyone he met.

He was a pastor, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend.

One of the best.

Please feel free to share stories of how Dad touched your lives over the years. Hearing those memories would mean so much to our family.

Dad will be laid to rest beside Mom on Thursday, September 3, at Clyde River Cemetery on Prince Edward Island. Any and all family and friends are welcome to attend this very informal graveside service at 1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Grand Manan Nursing Home, the Gideons, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the Philip Ells Memorial Funeral Centre, a service of Humphreys Funeral Home, 20 Marks Street, St. Stephen, NBE3L 2B2 (506.466.3110)