Dear Friends –
This morning at 7:15am the Rev. Hugh Hardin died at Marin General Hospital with Betty, his wife, by his side, Hugh was rector of St. Paul’s for 28 years. He was 87 years old.
As I mentioned in last week’s email, Hugh was taken to the Hospital last Thursday after a bad and unexpected fall. After an operation he was put in ICU, where he was until last night. After much discussion and consideration, including the wise counsel of our parishioner and close friend Dr. Ripley Hunter, they decided to take him out of ICU and let nature take its course.
The family was with Hugh yesterday evening as he was moved from the ICU. Betty was with him throughout the night. She was the only one with him this morning when, as the sun was rising, he breathed his last. She said his breathing was calm and steady throughout.
Mid-morning the family gathered around Hugh’s body and we prayed the powerful words of Ministration at the Time of Death from the Book of Common Prayer. There was a feeling of shared grief but also a feeling of deep gratitude that this servant of God had completed a rich, loving and meaningful life.
Funeral plans will be announced soon. In the meantime, please pray for the repose of the soul of Hugh; pray for strength and comfort for Betty and also for their children Paul, Mark, Dave and Sharon; and please join me in giving thanks for the life of this good man.
Blessings,
Christopher
p: (415) 456-4842