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Hugh Kearns
1939 - 2009
Hugh Kearns
1939 - 2009
Obituary
Guest Book
BORN
1939
DIED
2009
Hugh Kearns Obituary
Hugh Kearns, 69, Littlerock, died, Friday, August 7, 2009 in Ojai, with his family at his bedside.
He was born September 25, 1939, to James and Ellie Kearns in Belfast, N. Ireland. He married Mary Josephine (Vera) Pedersen in 1961 and immigrated to the U.S. in 1964, where he joined his brother's Brian and Matt. Once landed, the electrician by trade worked at Oxnard's St. Johns Hospital before opening Kearns Electric, along with other entrepreneurial endeavors prior to concluding as a Licensed Realtor/Broker.
Over the years, Hugh has owned several ranches in Ventura and Los Angeles Counties. Even with an abundance of fruit trees for harvest and sale his affinity for horses was paramount to him. He raised Arabians for show and racing and then took to Thoroughbreds in hopes of winning the Kentucky Derby.
The expert storyteller who brought life to any party with his infectious mayoral ability to create, comfort and carry a conversation with anyone. He was a tireless worker, spreading his love with his litany of jokes. Nothing brought greater joy to him than the opportunity to spend time with his family, whether it was a birthday party, a christening of a newborn baby or a trip "home" to Ireland to brush up on his brogue and literally bring home the bacon...and sausage and candy. He never put himself first; instead he was diligent to make himself available to all with a spirited generosity, which was second to none. Hugh had a singing voice heard to the heavens no matter the song, one of hundreds he knew by heart.
His children all attended Santa Clara Elementary School and both Santa Clara and St. Bonaventure High Schools. He was a member of Santa Clara Church, the National Horse Racing Association, the Oxnard Knights of Columbus and the Irish American Club.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years Vera, his five children Joseph (Meschal) Kearns, Ventura; Celine (John) Collins, Camarillo; Ellen (Randell) Richmond, Ventura; Nuala (Rob) Wickens, Ojai; and Eileen (Shane) Duffy, Northridge; his brother Brian, Oxnard; sisters Sheila and Nuala both of Belfast, N. Ireland, his 15 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren and 25 nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers Mathew and James
My blue-eyed Macushla awaken to stay. May God always hold you in the palm of His hands.
Visitation will be 4:00pm to 8:00pm with vigil service at 6:30p.m on Tuesday, August 11, 2009 at Santa Clara Mortuary, 2370 North H Street, Oxnard CA. Officiating the vigil service will be Fr. Michael McFadden. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Oratory of Santa Clara Mortuary at 12 noon on Wednesday, August 12, 2009; Msgr. Stephen N. Downes officiating. Committal Service immediately following in Santa Clara Cemetery, Oxnard CA. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Santa Clara Mortuary; phone 805-485-5757.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Noel Mullen
August 5, 2022
Probably the best man I ever knew. All of him. Meeting him in my late 20's and realising he was my first cousin changed me forever. He and his family were and still are uplifting. I miss him every day and always will. Lots of love to the Kearns I hope I see you again. (I will)
Norma rodriguez
September 1, 2009
Dear Mrs Kearns : My condolence to you on the loss,I will remember him alwaya's . God bless all of his family. My prayers go out to each and everygone of you . I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU.
Noel & Susie Mullen
September 1, 2009
Dear Cousin Hugh
You put more in to the world than you ever took out of it. We will miss you very badly, but the family you created remains and provides a greater testimony to you than words ever can. We were so pleased to see you with Vera in Dublin.
Love to the Kearns family
Margaret Kearns
August 30, 2009
Vera and all the wonderful children you birthed to help make our family what it is today. The cousins get together en mass and natter and reminiss over a pint of guinness or maybe a cuppa tea and a biscuit (who am I kidding) it sounded good. I thought of what would be appropriate to say at this time and I remembered a quote from way back "Death give you heartaches no one can feel....Love brings you memories no one can steal." Hughie will be missed for many things; his jokes his smile his toothpick his----his----his----they only print certain words so feel free to fill in the blanks. My only wish right now is that Hughie is filling Matt in with everything thats been going on down here and that Matt is helping Hughie through his process without any of his practical jokes we all know what pranksters they could be. Love and prayers always Margaret.
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Juanita Gallardo
August 16, 2009
To the Kearns family,
My condolences to you all on the loss of your dear husband/ father/ brother/ uncle Hughie Kearns. I will remember him fondly at the family functions in which I was blessed to attend with Jim. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
August 13, 2009
To Joe and Celine, spouses, kids and the entire Kearns family, so sorry to hear of your loss. Though we did not know your dad, we know many in your family. You are all good, kind souls. He must have been a wonderful example to you growing up and throughout your lives. Our thoughts are with you and your family as you move thorugh this time. The Heath Family - Dwayne, Susan, Chelsea and Curtis
Arleen Herrera
August 13, 2009
John and Celine,
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.
August 12, 2009
Vera and family ,I am so sorry to hear to hear of Hughies passing .We were supposed to come up to see him and yourself before we left for Georgia but time and circumstances did not allow us to come up .Now much to our regret we missed the chance to talk and listen to one of the great story tellers ever to come out of Belfast. The whole Kearns family are truly one of a kind and I know Hughies legacy will live on as he surely would want it '.Once again sincere condolences Billy and Marj Magee Cumming Georgia
August 12, 2009
We will never forget you Uncle Hughie. We have lots of memories of our times together and we are especially glad we had the opportunity to take you to Ardglass on your last trip home. We can still visualise you and Auntie Vera, dressed in your winter coats, hats & gloves and lovingly wrapped round each other to keep warm. It was a fun day and we could hardly talk as the wind blew so hard in the harbour. Fond fond memories we will cherish. Love and miss you lots..
Peter, Deirdre, Conor and Ryan Murray. Belfast Northern Ireland.
Tom Stevens
August 12, 2009
Vera & Family,
Peace and strength to you all during this time remembering the life of Hughie. Certainly Ryan has inherited his whit! He passed on his blue "irish eyes" to both Grace and Emily. As Hughie would say "God Bless".
Michael McMeekin
August 12, 2009
I've many fond memories of Hugh from my time spent in California to the time he spent in Belfast and I have to say he’s a real role model of mine. In life some talk the talk, some walk the walk but I’m pretty sure Hugh wrestled the damn thing into submission, if we all lived half the life he did we could all say we lived full ones!
He was a great man who will always be in my thoughts and forever will be someone I can look to for inspiration.
Lee Montemorra
August 12, 2009
Dear Vera and family,
I was startled to hear of Hugh's passing at Mass on Sunday. Know that the love and prayers of so many surround you. What wonderful memories he leaves!
August 11, 2009
To the Kearns family,
We are very sad to hear of the passing of Hugh. He was one in a million in many ways. He may be gone, but never
forgotten. Our love and prayers are with you, now and always.
Joe and Connie Pierce
Kathleen, Sean, Bill and Mike
Amy Acosta-Aguilar
August 11, 2009
Eileen and your family, my heart goes out to you. I remember meeting your father at a slumber party you had when you lived in Oxnard.
Love and Peace to you Eileen my dear old friend.
Love Amy
Kiley Olivier
August 11, 2009
Ellie, Nuala, Celine, Eileen, Joe and your Mom, with whom I have not had the pleasure of spending very much time...my condolences and love to all of you.
Always.
Kiley Ki
Sean Kearns
August 11, 2009
As I reflect on my journey through life, there are many fond memories and events that bring joy to me that would not have happened without you. For this I thank you. For the opportunity to work for you as a child picking apricots and the fun we had as cousins throwing them at each other from the trees, I thank you. For the abundance of family BBQs and gatherings at the ranch that I wish my children could experience, I thank you. For the endless nights of billiards over in Carriage Square, I thank you. For my first real job as an electrical apprentice (AKA go-for), I thank you. For the stories you told and the laughter you shared, I thank you. For the e mails we shared after my dad died, I thank you. For the hours you spent telling my children stories of my dad, I thank you. For being a wonderful uncle, boss, friend and confidant. I thank you. For so much more, I thank you. I will truly miss you. slán grá Seán
August 11, 2009
My thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
sharon kearns
August 11, 2009
To the kearns family,
All of you I am praying for your peace and your strength at this sad and difficult time. My prayers go out to each and everyone of you. May Uncle Hughie rest in peace and Look over all of us he has left behind, I am praying for a certain peace with his passing, May he be holding me da tight.....I will always cherish how he taught me how to fall off a horse and dry out apricots during my summers, the great fruit fights at the ranch with my cousins, and his famous story to me, how he got pulled over by the C.H.P. for speeding, he said to the officer, all the other friggers are going just as fast why did you pick me? the officer said "sir have you ever gone duck hunting"? And Uncle Hughie replied" yes, then the officer said, why did you shoot that one duck, and Uncle Hughie said" where do I sign". He was a great story teller, true to be that....I will miss him and his stories....God bless all of his family who find their struggles to be to much, he will be missed..
much love and God Bless
Gene and Gerda Jackson
August 11, 2009
To know you was to Love you. We will miss you.
David, Stephanie, Connor and Ryan Kearns
August 11, 2009
We will miss you very much!!! God Bless you Uncle Hughie!!!
Mc Larnon Family
August 11, 2009
With deepest sympathy for your loss.
Hugh McLarnon
August 11, 2009
Dear Mrs Kearns & Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We are sorry for your loss.
Hugh, Funmi, & Liam McLarnon
Ventura, CA
Michele Hay-Bohnsack
August 11, 2009
God saw you getting tired and a cure was not to be.So He put His arms around you and whispered “come to me.” With tearful eyes we watched you, and saw you pass away. Although we loved you dearly, we could not make you stay. A golden heart stopped beating, hard working hands at rest.God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.
We Love you Uncle Hughie.You will forever be in our hearts. Michele and Kylie Bohnsack
Nuala Wickens
August 11, 2009
We love and miss you Hughie!!!
Nuala, Rob, Lauryl, Alli, Josh and Rylie.
Edward Pedersen
August 11, 2009
Love you Uncle Hugh! My thoughts and prayers for you and the Family. I will miss you very much.
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