Obituary of Agnes Hodges

Agnes Hodges, peacefully at St. Marys Veterinary Clinic, on Friday, March 25 at the age of 15. Born in Moorefield, Ontario in 2006, she leaves behind owners Andrew Hodges, Andrea Macko and Charlotte Hodges, plus many well-wishers and fans in St. Marys and abroad. Our small dog had a big impact on many lives.

We post of her passing here because she was the welcoming committee and unofficial grief counsellor at this funeral home. From the first family she served -- they were very relieved to learn a Dachshund puppy and not a rat was running across the visitation room -- to the family who inquired about her earlier this week, she had the ability to put young and old alike at ease thanks to her calm demeanour, ridiculous stature, and bottomless brown eyes.

We knew she was ours when she tootled out of her pile of puppy siblings to sniff us out almost 16 years ago. Despite having her share of trademark Dachshund stubbornness, was a patient participant in many community activities, including hospital and nursing home visits, stints as a “wienerdeer” on the Front Porch Show, spokesdog for the Town of St. Marys dog tag program, Santa Claus Parade float entry and hogging the “pet of the week” feature in the St. Marys Independent newspaper.

But most of all, she was our family dog. She loved walks down the middle of the street, cuddling up for Charlotte’s storytime and snoozes in the sun. Her only tricks were “sit” and “waggly tail” and she wasn’t much for fetch or playing. But she graciously accepted Charlotte’s arrival into our family despite being spoiled rotten for years. “Nurse Agnes” also had the uncanny sense to know when we needed a “good sit together” after a challenging day on the job, resting her snout on a leg or arm to keep us in place for as long as necessary.

We will miss her quiet dignity, her warm snuggles and soft fur, the haughty English accent we used for her “voice”, and the simple companionship and unconditional love she provided us with. Thank you for your service, Little Dog. We love you.

If you wish, memorial donations to the St. Marys Healthcare Foundation, click here, would be fitting from her time as part of the doggy visit program at the hospital. Even years after, whenever we walked by the hospital she would pull towards the building thinking it was time to cheer up some people.