Obituary of Mr. Anesta St. John Huggins

With love and appreciation in our hearts, we share the transition to glory of Anesta S Huggins who passed from this life peacefully at home at the blessed age of 97 (January 25, 1928 - February 24, 2025).

For 48 years, Anesta was the devoted husband of Annette, who honoured him with unwavering care until his final earthly breath. 

Anesta was a loving father to Gloria, Alvin, Cornel, Sylvia, Vincent (deceased), Dennis, Leslie, Ronald (deceased), Conrad, Tamara [and Jessica (deceased)]. He  joins his parents and four of his siblings (John, Sylvia, Ivy and Hugh), who passed on before. To celebrate his life and carry on his legacy, Anesta leaves behind 30 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren, his sister and four brothers, and scores of family members including cousins, nieces and nephews, and in-laws. Anesta will also be mourned by many close friends.

Anesta was born in beautiful Dieppe Bay, St. Kitts and Nevis. With a gift of $200 sewn into his pants by his Mom, Anesta went to Antigua & Barbuda, where he began his career as a Police Officer in the Leeward Island Police Force at age 18. Anesta achieved the rank of Corporal before migrating to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1958, where he spent the remainder of his life. 

Anesta spent almost 40 years travelling across Canada and the northern US through his work at CP and VIA Rail. He commenced his career at the railway in the same fashion of many male, Black and Caribbean migrants at the time, as a Porter. At the time of his retirement, he was a Supervisor of Operations, training many employees in how to extend the absolute highest service standards to the millions of customers who took the train each year. 

With time to spare and working hands to use, Anesta left retirement to manage the operations of the Minkler Auditorium of Seneca College, giving guidance to countless international students and new Canadians who he held a personal affection for. While his youngest children were in school, Anesta also picked up their paper route,  joyfully delivering the Scarborough Mirror newspaper to his neighbours and friends well into his 80s. Anesta was a fixture of the neighbourhood, shoveling snow for others and giving advice on lawn care. 

Anesta was deeply engaged in political advocacy. He was a community campaigner whose efforts contributed to the successful elections of numerous Members of Provincial Parliament and Members of Parliament for Scarborough-Agincourt. At the occasion of his 75th birthday, Anesta was honoured by the Governor General of Canada and Prime Minister the Hon. Jean Chrietien for his contributions to civic life. He believed in giving to the community and empowering those marginalized and vulnerable. Along with volunteering at ACSA Community Services to provide hot lunches to the underserved, he supported many causes throughout his life, including: Covenant House for Youth, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Canadian Cancer Society, Sunnybrook Hospital, Humber Regional Hospital, the Scarborough Hospital Network, and the Alzheimer's Society. 

Anesta faithfully attended Knox United Church in Scarborough, contributing as a Visiting Elder, organizer of the “Nearly New” consignment store, and preparer of the Communion offering, among other gifts of service. He was also beloved by the church families of Onechurch.to (formerly Agincourt Pentecostal Church) and Malvern Christian Assembly where his wife and children attended. 

Anesta will be remembered for his love of flowers, his infectious laughter, and his quick and unmistakable wit. He taught those he loved to save their money for a “rainy day”, and to always keep toilet paper, paper towels, and laundry detergent in stock for Armageddon. He was a generous friend, an impeccable dresser, and a lover of all genres of music. Anesta was forever a colourful storyteller. Even while battling dementia, he regaled visitors with stories of his early years in the islands, the teachers he outsmarted, the beautiful women he admired, and the communities he united by his kindness. 

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday March 22, 2025 at Malvern Christian Assembly (6705 Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough, Ontario) at 10:30 a.m. Reception to follow. Interment at Pine Hills Cemetery.