Wednesday, January 29, 2025
From the Wilson family:
Huguette Wilson, a proud and elegant Frenchwoman who moved to the U.S. in her 20s and lived in Washington, D.C., for more than 70 years, passed away peacefully on Jan. 23 at her cherished Georgetown home, surrounded by close family and friends. She was 95.
Even after her beloved husband of 43 years, Robert (Bob) Wilson, died in 2000, Huguette spent the next quarter-century living life to the fullest — playing tennis into her 90s, enjoying meals with friends and neighbors, caring for her garden and flowers and traveling to London to visit her son and grandchildren.
Affectionately known by family and friends as “Hug,” she radiated personality, character and charm. She was renowned for her sense of style, fashion and aesthetic and artistic taste, as well as her love of good French food and wine. A breast cancer survivor, Huguette also stood out for her strong will, resilience and inner strength.
Above all, the last decades of Huguette’s life were consumed by her deep love, affection and devotion for her grandchildren, Peter and Alexandra.
Huguette Marcelle Vallier was born on Feb. 3, 1929, in Corgoloin, a small town in the Côte-d’Or region of Burgundy in northeastern France, to François and Rose Vallier. She was one of five siblings, along with older brother Raymond and older sister Ginette and younger sisters Collette and Aymardine.
As a young girl, Huguette lived through the “exodus” of 1940 as French families fled the German advance during World War II. Her family, packed into a single car with their belongings and a pet dog, relocated several times during the war to find safety.
Following the war, Huguette lived in Versailles, where she worked as an assistant at the Assembly of the French Union, a legislative body representing French overseas territories. It was in Paris that she met her future husband Bob, an American correspondent for the Associated Press.
In 1953, Huguette left for New York to work for the French delegation at the United Nations. She often worked the overnight shift, where during breaks, she would pursue her passion for ping pong. She was forever proud to recall that she had been ranked No. 3 among U.N. staff.
Bob Wilson had returned to the United States to work for U.S. News & World Report in Washington. Huguette moved to Washington in 1957 to join him, and they were wed in March of that year. Their son, Stephen, was born in December.
In 1963, the Wilson family relocated to Prospect Street — the home where Huguette spent the next 62 years of her life. She worked in senior roles at the French Embassy in a career that lasted more than 40 years.
Huguette was French by birth, French by nature and a lover of her native country. But one of her proudest moments was taking the oath of allegiance at her U.S. naturalization ceremony in 1993.
Huguette became like a second mother to her son’s friends and school classmates. They relished coming to the Wilson residence to listen to her French accent and savor her French food offerings — croissants for breakfast and steak frites for dinner.
For decades, Huguette graced the courts at the St. Albans Tennis Club, always looking impeccable while baffling opponents with her cross-court forehand returns. She was a “super ager’’ who played even at 90, beating opponents 30 years younger.
After Bob introduced her to football, Huguette became a lifelong avid fan of the Washington Redskins/Commanders. She and Bob attended games as season-ticket holders at Griffith Stadium and RFK Stadium.
In her final months and weeks, Huguette rejoiced in the team’s magical run to the NFC Championship Game, always making sure to be in front of the TV in time for the opening kickoff.
While Peter and Alexandra were both born and raised in London, that did not deter Huguette from regularly flying across the Atlantic alone to spend precious time with them, often taking them on holidays to France.
Huguette was her grandchildren’s biggest cheerleader, always encouraging them to reach for the top. She shared in all their milestones and applauded all their successes in the classroom, in sports and in their personal lives, including Peter’s marriage in 2020 to high school sweetheart Paz.
Huguette was exceptionally proud of son Steve and his successful international journalism career. He returned to the family home in Washington to look after her during the last few years of her life, something which he called a privilege and a blessing.
She never lost her spirit, panache or joie de vivre. Her curiosity, outgoing nature, easy laugh and witty humor delighted all who crossed her path. She connected easily with people of all generations, ages, backgrounds and nationalities.
The family of Huguette Wilson is deeply saddened at her passing but will always cherish the unforgettable memories and everlasting legacy of their beloved Hug.