Gerald Patrick Hughes passed away from dementia on July 2, 2019, surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Kildare, Ireland on July 27, 1928, the son of Gerald P. Hughes II and Hannah Hughes. He was educated in Ireland and Scotland and as a young man was a carpenter by trade. He came to America in 1952 and became a construction foreman and later a self-taught engineer who served as the Senior Building and Zoning Inspector for the City of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Gerald married the love of his life, Joan O'Connor, in 1954. After his marriage, he became active in the Catholic Church and so much so that the Diocese of Worcester offered him the position of Executive Secretary of their Lay Apostolate Department, a post he served for six years. In 1972, he became National Director of the Cursillo Movement, a worldwide program for Christian Renewal with headquarters in Dallas Texas. He served in that post for 22 years. During that time, he also served for three years as Director of the World Office for the Cursillo Movement and also served over the years as an advisor to the U.S. Catholic Bishop's Conference Committees' on Family Life, Laity and Evangelization. Gerald also served a five-year term on the Pontifical Council for the Laity as an advisor to Pope John Paul II. In 1983, Pope John Paul II named him as one of only three lay auditors to the Synod of Bishops on "Reconciliation and Penance". He conducted leadership retreats and workshops in 49 of the 50 U.S. states and 30 countries. He was a member of St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic Church for 45 years. While a member, he served as Lector Coordinator, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, first Chair of the parish Pastoral Council and spiritual advisor to The Altar Guild and the St. Vincent De Paul Society. In 2012 Hughes received the Bishop's Award for Service to the Church from Bishop Kevin Farrell.

He served for 10 years in the AARP Tax Aide Program as a Volunteer and an Area Coordinator and Tax Instructor. He was a founding member of The Red Bird and Country Club Corners Homeowners Associations. He was also a veteran of the two Civil Rights Marches on Washington and a member of The Southern Poverty Law Center, which among other things monitors antiintegration and hate group activities in the U.S.

He was also a writer, a public speaker, an organizer, a magazine editor, a publisher, an amateur artistic painter, sculptor, singer, poet and author. He was a devout Catholic and a daily communicant and served The Church in full and part time capacities locally, nationally, and internationally for over 60 years.

Gerald is survived by sister Jean Lafferty (deceased) of Barrhead, Scotland; his sister, Colette McBride of Worcester, Massachusetts; brother-in-law Sydney O'Connor and wife Alene, sister-in-law May Messier and husband Ernie; his daughter and son-in-law, Moira and Paul Philp of Keller, TX; his daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and Greg Gentry of Boerne, TX; his daughter, Kathleen Hughes of Dallas, TX; his daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and Kelly Sandefer of Midlothian, TX; his son and daughter-in-law, Gerald Patrick and Lisa Hughes of Frisco, TX; and his daughter and son-in-law, Brigid and Paul Astuto of Rogers, AR. He had 13 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Joan Mary Hughes, his son, Joseph Hughes of Wrentham, MA, and his brother-in-law, William McBride of Worcester, MA.

He was a genuine renaissance man and will be greatly missed by many.

A rosary will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at 7:00 pm.  A funeral mass will be held Friday, July 12, 2019 at 11:00 am, officiated by Father Russ.  Both services will held at St. Elizabeth of Hungary, 4015 South Hampton Road Dallas, TX.  Private family internment following the funeral service.