Agnes Anne Elizabeth Hutcheson

Agnes (German) Hutcheson

April 1, 1929 - June 18, 2025

At the age of 96, Agnes passed away peacefully in Ottawa, with her daughters, Helen Hutcheson (Don Miller) and June Ferguson (Ian Gibb) by her side. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Keith Hutcheson, in July 2022. Much loved grandmother of Paul Miller, Scott Miller (Lindsay Whitesell), Alan Miller (Jessica Carey), Danielle Ferguson (Ryan Moir) and Michael Ferguson (Christine Bilsky). Proud great-grandmother to Arielle and Blake Miller, and Alex, Wesley and Charlie Moir, who provided her with much joy. Cherished sister-in-law of Dorothy German. Predeceased by her parents, Spencer and Ellen German and her brother, Gordon German. Also, predeceased by her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Ronald and Ethel Hutcheson, and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Ron and Audrey Hutcheson and Bob and Margaret Green. Fondly remembered by her nieces and nephew.

Agnes was raised on a dairy farm near Woodstock. She attended Teacher’s College in London and embarked on her career as a teacher, teaching in Putnam and Ingersoll. In Putnam, she met Keith. They married in 1952. In 1958, they moved to their family farm in Oxford County near Embro, building a life and a business together, as broiler chicken farmers for 64 years, until Keith’s death in 2022. A dedicated and recognized life member of the United Church Women (UCW), Agnes lived her values, through service and strength.

Visitation will be held at Brock and Visser Funeral Home, 845 Devonshire Ave., Woodstock, 519-539-0004, on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 6 pm to 8 pm. A Funeral Service will be conducted in the Funeral Home Chapel at 11am on Friday, June 27, 2025 followed by a reception and lunch at the Funeral Home.

In memory of Agnes, donations may be made to Knox United Church Embro, https://knoxembro.ca/give/ or a charity of your choice.

~Reflections from June~

When I think about my mom, I don’t think about the last 10 years, as her health slowly declined. I remember all of the times before that---when she was strong, vibrant, and independent.

I remember the mother who, when we were children, was always there when we came home from school, who took us to swimming lessons in the summer; to skating rinks in Embro or in Ingersoll in the winter; and to piano lessons every week, even after our teacher moved to London.

I think about my mother who was a teacher, and who continued to teach us, getting Helen through Math, and me through Social Studies. I think about my hardworking mother, who helped in the barns to get ready for baby chicks; and who could milk our cow by hand, when Dad was at work; who hung out the sheets on the clothesline in the middle of winter; who ironed everything, giving her a chance to sit and watch TV while she did; who tended to a huge garden, making sure there was enough canned and frozen food to last our family all winter.

I remember our mother who nursed us through childhood diseases: chickenpox, measles, and mumps, and me through pneumonia. And, she read me bedtime stories every night before she tucked me into bed.

I remember the mother who taught me to cook, to bake, to sew, and to do embroidery work. Mom was a great seamstress; she made her own wedding dress, and made most of her own clothes, as well as Helen’s and my clothes, as we were growing up. I remember helping her to bake bread on stormy winter days, and I remember her playing “hide the key” with me, which allowed her to carry on with her tasks in the kitchen, but to still play with me.

I remember her as a devoted and active member of the church’s UCW (United Church Women), food preparation and service to the community, being a major part of her ‘calling’.

I remember my mom who was a true partner with Dad, looking after the business part of farming.

I remember the mother who would drive to Waterloo when I was in university, picking me up so I could spend a weekend at home, and then driving me back to Waterloo.

The care, and love that she demonstrated, as she supported her aging parents, her aunt and her father-in-law were evidence of her devotion, her strength, her compassion, and her character, all of which I never appreciated, until I began to take on similar responsibilities later in my parents’ lives.

Most of all, I remember her happiness and joy when she became a grandmother. She loved her grandchildren with all her heart, and she was always interested to hear about their lives and their accomplishments, even to her final days of life. We all remember the times we spent on the farm with Mom and Dad, as the grandchildren grew up. She was so proud of all five of you, Paul, Scott, Danielle, Michael and Alan.

And then, Mom and Dad became great-grandparents. The pleasure and joy that those five little ones brought to Mom was evident in her smiles, and her interactions with each of them. It was with great happiness this past Easter, that she met her identical, twin grandsons. She always loved to hear about them, and to see their pictures, and to share stories about them with her friends at Valley Stream. To her great-grandchildren, Arielle, Blake, Alex, Wesley and Charlie, you were the light of her life, and I am grateful for the joy you brought to her in her last years of life.

My heartfelt thanks to Helen, who diligently visited, cared for, and advocated for Mom after she moved to Ottawa, three years ago, when Dad died.

Mom, thank you for all you gave to me, and for all you taught me. Your work is done; you are reunited with Dad. Thank you for waiting for me to get to Ottawa to say ‘Goodbye’.

Rest in Peace.

I love you, Mom.