Obituary of Pamela J. Hughson

Pamela J. Hughson, age 60, died peacefully Monday, March 07, 2011 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House. Pam was born May 15, 1950 in Somerville, MA, daughter of Eugene and Marie (O’Connor) Hughson. Pamela’s love of travel and adventure began in her teens on a European tour with her uncle, aunt and cousin. Her ambition became to work, save and travel Europe, convincing any of her friends to accompany her. In 1975, as a result of meeting so many like-minded Kiwis during her travels and imagining what this distant land had to offer her, she emigrated to New Zealand, lived on a small dairy farm while working in a near-by vineyard. In the late 70’s, failing health of a beloved grandmother brought her back to the States for a few years, during which she lost her NZ residency status. She continued traveling abroad and eventually returned to NZ on a work permit, and became secretary at Freeman’s Bay Primary School in Auckland. On a subsequent trip back to the states in the mid 80’s, she met her future husband on a yacht delivery trip to the Virgin Islands. Pamela and Andrew Gallison were wed in Napier, NZ on January 29, 1989. The couple settled in Wareham, MA, where Pamela became secretary of Wareham Area Hospice / Lighthouse Hospice. In 1997, Pamela and her husband moved to Block Island, RI and founded Block Island Sails & Canvas, Inc. In 2007, they settled in Portland, Maine. Pam enjoyed good food and conversation, cross-country skiing, ice skating, hiking, sailing, knitting, sewing and she was a voracious reader. Pam’s talents and versatility can best be acknowledged by her work history. Besides working as a sail maker/ canvas worker, she was librarian at the Wareham Free Library, secretaries for Lexington Eye Associates, Boston Harbor Sailing Club, Lyn Hovey Studios and Lighthouse Hospice. Anyone who met Pam and spent time with her could not help but be calmed by her deportment, look at life differently, and wonder about their principles. Pamela is survived by her mother and father, her husband, one sister, three brothers, six nieces, one nephew, one great-niece and one great-nephew. She was pre-deceased by her brother, Kenneth. Donations in Pam’s memory can be made to: Hospice of Southern Maine, 180 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074. Arrangements are private. On-line condolences may be offered at www.directcremationofmaine.com.