CAMDEN, N.J. — A Mass of Christian Burial was offered for Gerald Hudson, OFM, on March 8 at St. Anthony of Padua Church here.
Provincial Minister John O’Connor, OFM, was principal celebrant at the 11 a.m. service, and Jud Weiksnar, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony’s, preached the homily. Gerald, a professed friar for 23 years, died March 2 at St. Anthony of Padua Friary in Camden. He was 67 years old.
Early Years
Born May 6, 1942, in Southwick, Idaho, to Ersle and Irene Hudson, Gerald graduated in 1960 from Potlatch High School in Potlatch, Idaho. He served four years in the United States Navy before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in teaching history from Lewis-Clark State College (formerly Lewis-Clark Normal) in Lewiston, Idaho, and the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.
After being baptized in August 1982 in the Church of the Holy Cross in Dover, Del., Gerald was received into the Order of Friars Minor on June 20, 1985, and professed first vows June 7, 1986, before Alban Maguire, OFM, both at St. Francis Friary in Brookline, Mass. On June 16, 1990, Jerry professed final vows at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street in New York City, before Anthony Carrozzo, OFM.
Ministry
Jerry was assigned — from 1988 until 1995 — to the Province’s mission in Kingston, Jamaica. He then assisted at Holy Name of Jesus Parish on West 96th Street in New York, while teaching English as a second language at St. Michael Episcopal Church, until 2002. His next four years were spent at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, N.C., and at St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Anderson, S.C.
He moved to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in September 2006, where he was involved in a variety of the parish’s ministries and outreach — some of which often landed him on TV and in newspapers, advocating for change in the Cramer Hill community of Camden.
Funeral Services
A wake and wake service were held March 7 at St. Anthony of Padua Church. C. Raymond Selker, OFM, gave the eulogy.
Jerry is survived by his son, Juan Rodriguez, who was adopted prior to Jerry’s entering the Order, as well as sisters, Carol Taggart of Potlatch and Phyllis Hadaller of Princeton, and brothers, Douglas of Potlatch and Boyd of Moscow, and nieces and nephews. Condolences may be sent to Mr. Juan Rodriguez, 823 Sabind Circle, Bear DE 19701, and Mrs. Carol Taggart, 5460 Highway 95, Potlatch ID 83855.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Franciscan Missionary Union, 135 West 31st Street, New York NY 10001-3403.
Editor’s note: Photos of Gerald Hudson can be found on the Web site of St. Anthony of Padua Parish.