FRONT PORCH PERSPECTIVE: Pauline Hubble, 1940 – 2015

April 29, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Stephen Somerville

For anyone whose son or daughter has played hockey in Aurora during the last 34 years, you will have most likely either seen or spoken to my mother-in-law, Pauline Hubble.
Ms. Hubble was the volunteer Registrar for Aurora Minor Hockey.
It is with great sadness that I announce her passing on April 13, after a short illness.
She was a great lady and was very much emblematic of the fine folks that we have in Aurora.
Ms. Hubble was a selfless person, and to borrow an expression from Richard Nixon, one of the “silent majority.” Those people who quietly meet the challenges and commitments of everyday life and also find time to volunteer their time to others. They usually don’t garner headlines, trophies or accolades, but their individual contributions are what make our community worth living in.
A number of years ago, Ms. H was honoured with a plaque by the town of Aurora. Typical of her, she did not attend the awards ceremony and did not even mention it. My wife was the one who found out.
We made sure she, and her family attended, the next time that Ms. Hubble was honoured for her volunteer contributions.
Back in November 2011 our family attended Sport Aurora’s inaugural Volunteer Recognition Event.
We were attending because my mother-in-law had been nominated by the Aurora Minor Hockey Association.
Ms. Hubble was always at the rink to help with some hockey tournament, or else people would drop by her home at all times of the day or call her with some registration related question.
I was so really proud of her that day; I was also in awe when listening to the brief description that was read of the reason for her nomination. Her dedication and time commitment for this local sport was amazing.
Thanks to her efforts, this community is a much better place to live.
As a few readers know, Ms. Hubble lived seventy-eight feet, three and one-quarter inches directly across the street from Julie, Ryan and I.
Someone once asked me if I was crazy living that close to my mother-in-law. Without hesitation I simply muttered, “Yes, I am!”
I remember my first night in our new home. I was having trouble sleeping so I watched television until 2 a.m. The next day my mother-in-law said “I saw your lights on very late last night, doesn’t anyone sleep over there?” I said to Julie, “I’m putting the house up for sale this afternoon!”
Ms. Hubble had a great sense of humor. Even when I mentioned, on more than one occasion, that she should not come over to our house until it is dark outside so as to preserve the resale value of our home and those of our neighbors!
She was known by the various nicknames that I had gleefully assigned her over the years: Mrs. “H”, Hubby, the Queen Mum, Garden Gnome, Yoda and my personal favourite, Shrek. Only occasionally was she known by her real name.
She also gave as well as she received.
I remember, a few minutes prior to my wedding, asking Mrs. H what she would do if I took off and left her daughter standing at the altar.
“I would feel both elated and relieved” was the immediate response! Ouch!
The Queen Mum was not at all averse at sharing her opinions. And never ever verbally dish the royal family or you would be getting an ear full. And don’t even think of trying to watch something else on television when the Queen gave her annual Christmas Day address.
I have been so fortunate to have had Ms. Hubble in my life for almost 20 years.
And so many wonderful memories came flooding back as I looked at all the pictures that we have of various weddings, birthdays and Christmas celebrations.
Before my son was born, Julie, Ms. Hubble and I went to England to visit her sister and the rest of her family and we had a great time.
Our family also enjoyed having frequent pizza or Swiss Chalet dinners with Ms. Hubble and my brother–in-law Mike, sister-in-law Cindy and their two children, Brock and Devan.
Ms. H particularly loved Christmas. And although she was not a Catholic she really enjoyed attending the Christmas Eve mass with our family at Our Lady of Grace church. She also took great pleasure in purchasing and wrapping presents for her various family members.
I will always treasure the simple pleasure of our time together over the last few years. Every Saturday and Sunday morning, I would drop off her “medium, double milk coffee” and we would kibitz about the Leafs or talk golf or about politics.
Aurora and this writer are so very, very fortunate to have had such a person as her in our community and in our lives.
Rest in peace, Pauline.