Charles E. “Charlie” Hughes, Jr. passed away on April 16, 2025 at Beaumont Nursing and Rehab in Westborough after a brief illness. Born in Cambridge to Charles and Mae (Haskell).
Charlie grew up in Framingham, graduating from Framingham High in 1962. He went on to Bentley College where he received an accounting degree in 1964. He was set up on a blind date and in 1965 married Kathleen Deneen. He enlisted in the US Navy where he proudly served his country as a security specialist in Guam during the Vietnam War. After the war, he and Kathleen returned from Guam and settled to raise a family in Framingham.
Charlie retired from Textron Industries as a Senior Buyer. He then fulfilled a dream by opening The Village Cafe and serving coffee to townies for a couple of years, which led to a short stint in the Treasurer’s Office for the Town of Framingham. After really retiring, Charlie moved to the Carolinas for a few years to enjoy golf and warmth of the sun.
After a stroke in 2014, his daughter Shelly moved Charlie to Northboro, where the folks at Whitney Place Asst Living became his second family.
Charlie is survived by his daughters Angela Griffin (Peter) of Framingham and Shelly Hughes (Tracey) of Northbridge. Granddaughters Farah Griffin (Bob), Madison Berazueta (Sebastian) and Sydney Griffin. His sister Sandra Watson of Florida.Also survived by his former spouse (who spent his 80th birthday with him!) Kathleen Hughes of Southern Pines, NC., as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thank you to Tracey Ferguson who gave Charlie the extra care and compassion he needed in his final weeks.
Any expressions of sympathy can be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute/Jimmy Fund.
A graveside military service will be held this summer at Bourne National Cemetery.
To share a memory with Charlie’s family, kindly visit www.mccarthyfh.com
Norton, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home