Obituary: Greta Constance Hague

Greta Constance Hague, widow of the late Rev Eric Hague and dearly loved mother of Bill, John and Philip, mother-in-law of Ros, Anna and Marilyn, grandmother of Jonathan, Joy, Luke, Amy, Esme, Bethany and Sophia, and greatgrandmother of Olivia, Milla, Joash and Annika, died aged 95 years, peacefully at home in Trumpington, Cambridge on December 29 2012, surrounded by family members, after a short illness.

Born of missionary parents in Kunming, China, she trained in medicine at Cambridge University and King’s College Hospital, London, before returning to China as the superintendent of the CMS Way of Life Hospital, Guilin in 1947. There she met Eric, whom she married in 1948.

She and Eric left Guilin in 1949, working in Hong Kong until a return to the UK in 1957.

After Eric’s incumbencies in Woking, High Wycombe, Little Shelford, and Parr Mount, St Helen’s, where Greta resumed medical practice for a short time, they retired first to Hoylake, then to Chipping Norton, to Appleby, and finally to Cambridge, living first in Oakington, then Coton, and lastly in Manor Court, Grange Road.

In every home her Christian hospitality was legendary, and she was a loved friend and confidante of many. She maintained her passion for China and its people, especially those with leprosy, returning several times, most recently in 2011 for the Centenary of the Way of Life Hospital, now the Guilin Women’s and Babies’ Hospital, and also the 125th anniversary celebrations of the CMS Po Yan Hospital, Pakhoi, now the Beihai People’s Hospital, where her father had first worked in China, particularly with leprosy patients.

Her life’s passion was to share that Bible-based Christian faith in the living Lord Jesus could be held and maintained vigorously, even into old age. In her final years, she shared a home with John and Anna, continuing her prayer and China interest groups until her last weeks, as well as an active international email correspondence.

Gifts in memory of Greta may be made to the Church Mission Society, the Overseas Missionary Fellowship or the Leprosy Mission, at the service or c/o Co-operative Funeralcare, 34 James Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 1HX.