From Springhill Home

Funeral homily for Hilton Blair Fowler

I’m not entirely certain but I’m willing to bet that there was a gathering in Spring Hill, Nova Scotia some eighty-seven years ago or so in the parish church of Saint John the Baptist.  On that day, Justin and Emma Fowler had brought their son Hilton Blair along with them to the church and were celebrating his baptism.  As the priest poured water on his head he spoke the words which marked the beginning of Hilton’s life of faith:  Hilton Blair, I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The next eight decades brought many joys to this man, including the day he met Angela; apparently there was a double date involved.  Other reasons for great joy included the births of his four children.  Unfortunately, Blair and Kelly are not able to be here today, but they are united with us in spirit.  There were of course other occasions for celebration including the days when each of his seven grandchildren was born, and later when his great grandchildren came into this world.  Each of these was deeply loved by him.  He made a point of being present to help in whatever way he could, or in whatever way Angela told him he could help.

Hilton was a teenager when the Second World War broke out, so he served for a time in the Canadian Navy, and only after his return to Canada did he pursue his formal education in preparation for the working world.  Through all of this, he was a man deeply rooted in faith.  This faith had been taught to him, and modeled for him in the faith lives of his parents.  Together with his wife, he taught and modeled this faith for his children and grandchildren too.

We are here in this church today to celebrate Hilton’s life: we remember and give thanks today for the many years of his earthly life, but more importantly we are here to entrust his soul to the loving care of the Father who we have come to know through the words and example modeled for us by the Carpenter’s son, the prophet from Nazareth who once told his disciples, Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God still and trust in me.  These words were spoken by one who had developed a deep sense of trust with his disciples.  He had demonstrated his confidence in their ability, and they in turn had come to believe that he was the one who would inspire them to always strive to be better, more sincere, more loving and more authentic persons.  When the time was approaching for him to be parted from them, he wanted them to be sure that they would be able to stand on their own two feet, that they would be able to continue the work of proclaiming the message of love and compassion that they themselves had heard, that they had come to believe.

Whether we have known Hilton in his working life at INCO, or as a privileged member of his extended family, or through any of the sporting interests he continued to cultivate over the last twenty years, we have indeed had the privilege of being in the presence of one who truly trusted in God, and in the promise of life given to us by his Son Jesus.

In the last few years of his life here in earth, Hilton didn’t have to concern himself with caring for his lawn, or shoveling his driveway, but he had spent so many years living in that house in Copper Cliff that these things were in his blood.  The routines of walking through the streets of that town, of visiting the post office, of socializing with friends and acquaintances who gathered at Saint Stanislaus church to pray had to be transplanted somehow to new surroundings.  This was not always easy, but thanks to the dedication of his family and friends, he and his beloved wife were able to live together and to support one another until the day earlier this week when God called him home.  Now he is able to partake in the banquet which has been prepared for him in heaven, a banquet which we taste here at the table of the Eucharist, and which we too will share with him when our earthly journey is complete.  Gathered around this table, let us give thanks today for Hilton’s many years among us, for the graces and blessings we have known, and let us break bread together this day, even as we entrust him to the loving arms of our God, in whom we hope for salvation.