Deceased Friars
Christopher Hee, OFM

1889 – 1963
Fr. Christopher Hee, OFM, was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on Nov. 9, 1889. He came to the United States as a child and attended St. Alphonsus Parochial School in Philadelphia, Pa. Before he entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., he worked as a pastry cook at the Hotel Majestic in Philadelphia.
He was received into the Province’s novitiate July 28, 1915, and professed temporary vows Aug. 3, 1916. Fr. Christopher made his profession of solemn vows Sept. 19, 1919, and was ordained a priest June 18, 1922.
Fr. Christopher spent his entire friar life as a faculty member of St. Bonaventure College in Allegany, N.Y., where he taught English and German. He also served in a great variety of administrative positions, among them purchasing agent, treasurer, bursar and director of maintenance.
Throughout his life, he continued his favorite hobby of pastry baking and delighted the friars on special occasions with artistically decorated cakes.
Fr. Christopher was a patient at St. Francis Hospital in Olean, N.Y., for 12 years and died there on June 6, 1963. He was 73 years old, a professed friar for 46 years and a priest for almost 41 years.