Hugh McFadden
by Mike Thompson, 3/17/2012
Hugh McFadden was the second youngest of the seven children of Andrew and Ellen McFadden, and was Agnes McFadden/Thompson/Desserault's younger brother. Here's a picture of Hugh with his mother, Ellen McFadden, which I think was taken around the time of the beginning of World War II.
Hugh was probably the most easy-going of the McFadden brothers and sisters, who were a very energized bunch overall. For me he was one of those great, simple, straightforward, what-you-see-is-what-you-get people, of which there were many in that great generation. Hugh's hallmarks were kindness, honesty, and hard work.
Like his brother, Andy, Hugh made his living as a welder for most of his life. He worked on the Hanford Project, which was not far from his home in Kennewick, and on the Alaka Pipeline project, among others. This picture shows Hugh in Valdez, Alaska, the southern terminus of the pipeline, which brought oil from Alaka's North Slope oil fields.
Hugh and Monica's home in Kennewick was small and humble, but it always felt welcoming. I remember walking into their front room as a kid and seeing shelves full of books and odds and ends from from one of their kids' latest science project. Hugh and Monica were both big believers in education, and gave their children tremendous support during their school years. I believe that all five of Hugh's kids went to college. That couldn't have been easy to swing on a welder's income.
Faith was absolutely central to Hugh's life, as it was for all of the McFaddens. Hugh and family attended nearby St. Joseph's church on Sundays, and prayer was a part of every single day for them.
Hugh died on September 22, 2011, the last of the seven McFadden brothers and sisters to leave this world. His daughter, Elizabeth, an ESL teacher, gave a beautiful eulogy, which is printed below.
Eulogy for Hugh Joseph McFadden - by Elizabeth McFadden
Written as a gift to my father and presented at his Memorial Mass on October 15, 2011
I'm Elizabeth McFadden. I'd like to share a bit of my father's story and a few recollections. Then, I would invite anyone else to share a moment or a blessing. My father would be pleased to know you are here today. Thank you for coming. I hope you leave today with your heart filled with hope.
Family ties were important to Hugh. He shared a strong bond with the rest of the McFadden family. They were sturdy stock - raised on the farm and weathered the Great Depression in North Dakota, until moving out west. Born in a soddy, on a homestead in Divide County North Dakota on February 29, 1920, to Andrew Stephen McFadden and Ellen (Barrett) McFadden, Hugh attended school and did farm work, alongside his sisters Rosemary, Elizabeth, Agnes, Helen, and Eddie (Honey) and brother Anthony (Andy) McFadden. He was an amateur boxer, a Golden Gloves contender.
We loved hearing Papa's stories of adventures living in the North Dakota. He had a way of capturing and retelling a story that would leave you wanting to hear more. As children, we repeatedly begged to hear the story of how a terrible tornado destroyed much of everything when it came through, but left the turkey platter on a high rock where it was found in perfect condition at a much later date.
Hugh graduated Crosby High School. In 1937, drought and the Great Depression brought the family to Yakima, WA in a Model A Ford after spending one of the most memorable two-weeks in his life with his family in Glacier National Park. In Yakima, he worked several jobs including fruit picker, dishwasher, and cannery worker. After anding work, he enrolled in the opening class of JM Perry Trade School (now Perry Technical institute) and studied welding, his vocation. World War II started and Hugh worked in the Portland shipyards, building landing craft. He then served as sergeant in the Army, 32nd Engineers, attached to the Air Force in Germany. After the war, he returned to Washington State and attended technical schools for welding in Portland, Tacoma, Seattle and at CBC in Pasco.
In 1954, Hugh met my mother, Monica Berchtold, at a church spaghetti feed and they married the next year at Christ the King Catholic Church in Richland. They made their home in Kennewick, WA and had six children. Their darkest days were when two of their children died, little Ann, as an infant daughter and their dear son, Jerome at age 35. Through the struggles and triumphs, my father was committed to my mother for 56 years. He recalled that when they renewed their wedding vows, it was one of the happiest days of his life. I do for her and she does for me. That's how it is.
My dad's career included work on Hanford nuclear projects, a Nike missile base, oil platforms and pipelines in Alaska, an underground aqueduct, and an atomic bomb test site. He joined the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, Local 598 in 1951 and was a 60 year member. Through the years, he made some good friends and worked with other McFadden family members, his brother and his nephews. He often told stories about works and situations encountered as a welder following construction in eight states from California to Alaska. Stories of work on the Alaskan pipeline and oil platforms were a favorite. You could tell how much he loved the welding field, despite the dangers. Often, he went to bed praying and woke up praying...prayer was what got him through each day.
Papa often traveled and had to live out of his camper at job sites, to follow construction. When he was gone, letters from home, long walks, and prayers were consolation. When he was home, we would go on "dog runs'' to Bateman Island. Trips to the mountains and ocean with family during summer vacation were treasured. We would travel to the Oregon coast or Westport, WA or to the mountains in Montana or up the North Cascade highway in the camper. A favorite camping spot was an area above Naches.
Let me highlight my dad's thoughtful side. As I got older, he used the book titled, The Power of Positive Thinking, by Norman Vincent Peale, as a consequence for my misbehavior, instead of the more typical spankings. After reading aloud several chapters to him, only your pride was stinging, but your thinking started to change. Papa was proud of his children's accomplishments. He encouraged the education of his children through attendance and extra-clurricular activities. He was proud that his children completed college. I remember Papa's genuine interest in knowing how I was and how the people I cared about were doing. He'd ask and then he'd listen. He'd want to know more about my adventures teaching high school students, help advising the Ballet Folklorico dancers, and evening adult language class instruction.
Papa wanted to know my students' educational aspirations, struggles and triumphs, and what I was doing to help them. "Tell them that they need to stay in school, get involved and get their education. Tell them education is the key." For some of my students, knowing my dad was proud of them was a boost. Papa taught me to listen and understand the power of story. Giving students a chance to tell and write their stories was insightful advice.
Hugh was a longtime member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Kennewick. His faith and values were important. He encouraged us to attend church and pray daily, together at meals and nighttime prayers, When he asked me if I pray at work, I responded that I always pray that the copy machine will work. Then he looked at me - I suddenly knew that was not the kind of praying he was talking about. Even in his final days, he was encouraging us through prayer.
Hugh was grateful to all those who helped him in so many ways and had patience to see him through. He was very happy to live a life surrounded by people who cared, and finally, to be able to stay living In his home. All in all, Hugh loved each of us and provided insights through his example or words: the importance of daily prayer, the need for faith, forgiveness, patience, consideration, a positive attitude, health, education, and the value of listening to each person's story.
I can easily recall my dads words...and in each word...a memory:
Please, Thank you, I'm sorry, I love you, I'm proud of you, I'll tell my little boys about you. Are you going to do it? Do it! If you don't know, why don't you know? Don't say yep, say yes, It's not always the man, but the conditions he's under. Success in life is timing. You can know the theory by the books, but if you can't put it into practice... You need patience. You need to pray. Stay with your Faith. Go to church. Life goes a certain way. Death is part of life. We're going to make it now...all these, and a few other colorful expressions!
My father thanked God for saving those who are now in heaven, believing that we will meet again someday. Hugh wanted you to know that he was heartily sorry for hurts he may have caused you. There is a prayer that he learned and recited often and it is in your handout. I would ask that we say it together with me now.
My Prayer
Heavenly Father, to You I pray,
Help me through this coming day.
When times are hard and spirit's low,
Upon my knees to You I go.
I know that you will hear my plea,
You have always welcomed me.
You may not answer right away,
My fears will go, they do not stay.
In Your time, and at Your will,
My spirit will soar if I am still.
I will put my trust in You,
Your Word and love are always true.
I appreciate Papa for loving me and pushing me to become somebody he could be proud of. It has been an honor to share my thoughts of him with you. If there are thoughts you'd wish to share...