Joseph Louis Gerard Raymond Hudon

Raymond was born March 20, 1936 in the small community of Armley, SK, but grew up in the farming community of Zenon Park. His initial education was in the 1-room rural school "La Marseillaise", but he attended high school in Zenon Park and Collège Mathieu in Gravelbourg, SK. After graduation, he initially worked on the family farm until venturing out into the wider world. From 1956 he worked a winter in lumber camps doing various jobs before moving on to train as a psychiatric nurse at Oliver Hospital in Fort Saskatchewan, where he spent the subsequent 3+ years. After his hospital tenure, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1959. He worked as an airframe metal technician after passing technical training, being posted at bases in eastern Canada, where his contemporaries gave him the nickname "Gabe". When his enlistment ended in 1964, he chose not to re-up and returned to Saskatchewan.

In 1965 Ray entered the College of Pharmacy at the University of Saskatchewan, where he strove for three years to learn the intricacies of medico-chemical intervention. While still attending university, he met his future wife, Wendy McFadyen. After a year-long courtship, they were married in December 1968. They were fruitful and multiplied, supplying the world with 5 amazing children and 12 superlative grandchildren. Not all at once, though.

While being wrapped in the bliss of matrimony, Ray managed to find time to better himself while providing for his family with his hands as a journeyman sheet-metal fabricator. Among his pursuits were CIM certification from the Canadian Institute of Management, completing the Dale Carnegie course, joining Toastmasters, and acquiring a boiler fireman's certificate. As time marched on, he unleased his interest in computer technology, buying a Commodore Vic 20 for the family, and then joining the PC revolution. As part of his lifelong interest in learning and technology, he built and maintained 3 different PC rigs as the technology progressed and then became obsolete. As all right-thinking people agree, he held that Windows XP was peak Windows, using later versions only under protest. In his later years he was always learning, scratching the itch of interest on varied topics, including space and astrophysics.

Ray did take greatest pride in his offspring. If you could drag your bum out of bed early enough, you could get a ride to school in the morning, but you would get chauffeured to whatever activity you had signed up for, be it hockey or softball or other competitive outlets. He extended this to his grandchildren after they showed up, going so far as to drive one granddaughter to Regina for a wrestling tournament after a coaching failure. His kids and grandkids never doubted his love for them. He was so proud of their accomplishments and attended everything he could. Ray didn't have to say he loved his family, because he lived it.

Ray was a man of very deep faith. Anywhere he and Wendy travelled, the first thing they did was find out where to attend Sunday Mass. During the early part of their marriage, they were members of the Christian Family Movement. In 1984 he brought the family to Edmonton to attend Mass with Pope John Paul II on his first Canadian visit. A half-century member of the St Philip Neri parish, Ray led of team of welcomers for many years, served a term (along with Wendy) on parish council, and served as a Eucharistic minister until his battle with cancer began to take over his life.

Ray held deep love for his family, but his greatest love was reserved for his wife, Wendy. Together for 58 years, she was the true centre of his existence. He was her dragon slayer, sleeping with his leg hanging off the bed to keep the snakes away from her. He "dealt with" the various rodents that dared to penetrate his queen's castle. He was a constant source of support for Wendy in any way she needed, indulging in her need to find new items to occupy space in their home. He marked their anniversary every year with a lovely bouquet of red roses, and even lovelier sentiments in his handwritten message inside the accompanying card. Even in his last days while under care, he made sure secretly that Wendy received 18 red roses to mark the day they were married to celebrate their 57th anniversary.

Ray led with his heart and gave us all an example to live up to.

He passed away at Glengarda Hospice January 13, 2026 with his family around him. He was 89.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, January 17, 2026 at St Philip Neri RC Parish, (1902 Munroe Ave S, Saskatoon).