Active parishioner at Emmanuel Episcopal Church who enjoyed playing guitar
WAKEFIELD — Hugo S. Persson, a resident of Wakefield, died unexpectedly on February 2, 2022, aged 53.
Son of Anne-Maj Berglund and Staffan Persson, Hugo was born on April 8, 1968 in Seattle, Washington. As a child he relocated to his mother’s native Finland, along with his sister Rebecka and their mother. A proud Finn, Hugo and his family were members of the country’s Swedish-speaking minority.
Hugo returned to the U.S. as a young man, joining his sister in Massachusetts. He soon made his home in Wakefield. Hugo did not drive and was often seen walking around town with a ready smile. He worked in a variety of industries, most recently at the Home Depot in Reading.
For well over a decade, Hugo was an active parishioner at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Wakefield. He was proudly baptized at the Easter Vigil in 2010. He regularly participated in Sunday services, education programs, and social events, forging many strong friendships that sustained him and them. His deep faith and church friendships led him to volunteer often at the Wakefield Food Pantry, helping unload early morning deliveries.
Hugo was also a member and regular participant in programs at Horizon House. He especially enjoyed Horizon House community trips to New York, Philadelphia, and more. He was not ashamed to speak of his struggles with anxiety and addiction, and regularly attended AA meetings.
Hugo especially enjoyed playing guitar and composed his own music, including several songs dedicated to his friends. He closely followed current events and was interested in politics. With trips back to Finland infrequent, he relished opportunities to speak in his native Swedish and Finnish whenever possible.
Hugo was predeceased by his beloved mother Anne-Maj, who died while living in Sweden; his father Staffan of Alabama; and his sister Rebecka, who had lived in Concord. He is survived by his stepmother Susan Lynch of Madison, AL. With no biological family in the area, Hugo’s friends and fellow parishioners at Emmanuel Episcopal Church adopted him. He is deeply missed by his church family, as well as by his many friends at Horizon House and Home Depot.
A memorial service in celebration of Hugo’s life will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 5 Bryant St., Wakefield, on Saturday, April 30 at 11 a.m., with a luncheon to follow. Friends are warmly invited. Interment will be at the Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord, alongside his beloved mother and sister.