By Rebecca Goodman
Enquirer staff writer

SPRINGFIELD TWP. - The Rev. Alfard D. Hudepohl, a Franciscan and former pastor of St. Clement Church in St. Bernard, died June 24 at Mercy Franciscan Terrace in Springfield Township of complications of acute pulmonary disease and diabetes. He was 74.

"He was a very easy-going person - very personable," said his brother, the Rev. Howard Hudepohl, chaplain at Mercy Franciscan Terrace. "He had this knack of calming the seas, making peace and so forth. He never liked confrontations. That wasn't his style at all."

A St. Bernard native, Father Al, as he was known at the more than 10 parishes he served, spent 46 years ministering throughout the Midwest and Southwest.

Father Al - whose given name was Donald - was one of six children born to Florence Tieman Hudepohl and Henry Hudepohl.

He graduated from St. Francis Seminary High School (now closed) in 1947 and entered the Franciscan Order, in the footsteps of his older brother, Howard.

Father Al received his education at Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Mich., and Oldenburg Theologate in Oldenburg, Ind. (both closed). He was ordained in 1956 and selected the name "Alfard" for himself. Father Howard explained that it was customary in those days for Franciscans to choose names of saints.

Father Al devoted his life to parish ministry. He served in Texas, Kansas, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana before moving back home to St. Clement in 1991.

After a year of serving as associate pastor, he became pastor and held that position until 1998.

Father Hudepohl was associate pastor of St. Louis Parish in Batesville from then until 2002. He retired to Mercy Franciscan Terrace, where he assisted his brother - the chaplain - by saying Mass for the residents until he became too sick to do so.

In addition to his brother, survivors include three other brothers, Bob of Bevis, Jerry of White Oak and Jim of Finneytown; and a sister, Jane Hudepohl Johnson of Traverse City, Mich.

Services have been held.

Interment was at St. Mary Cemetery in St. Bernard.

Memorials: Franciscan Missionary Union, 1615 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45210-1297.