Detroit — Fr. Jeffrey Ronald Anifer, a priest for 46 years, died Oct. 1 at the age of 72.

Born Oct. 29, 1940, Fr. Anifer was ordained a Franciscan priest of the Assumption Province in Wisconsin on May 27, 1967. He was later incardinated into the Archdiocese of Detroit on April 29, 1989.

Fr. Duane Novelly, pastor of St. Matthew Parish in Detroit, was a close friend of Fr. Anifer. Fr. Novelly, who met Fr. Anifer about 26 years ago when they were assigned together at St. Joan of Arc Parish, described him as a “very helpful and kind person.”

“One thing that impressed me the most when I first met him,” said Fr. Novelly, “We were pulling together a social event on the day he was moving [into the parish] and asked us if we needed any help. He didn’t even think of his own personal needs.”

Fr. Anifer was an avid Chicago Bears fan, and Fr. Novelly, a Lions fan, said they “had a friendly rivalry.”

Irene O’Connor, business manager at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, had worked with Fr. Anifer for 20 years while he was pastor and considers his passing “a very great loss.”

“He was a very giving priest,” O’Connor said. “No matter when people called, morning, afternoon or night, he was very compassionate to them in their time of need.”

O’Connor said Fr. Anifer was “good to people, and people were good to him. Toward the end when he needed help and assistance, there were a couple people who really stepped up to help him. They were there for him because he had been there for them.”

Fr. Anifer’s assignments throughout the Archdiocese of Detroit spanned many years. He served as campus minister at Ladywood High School in Livonia from 1975-86; associate pastor of St. Lawrence Parish, Utica, from 1986-88; associate pastor at St. Joan of Arc Parish, St. Clair Shores, from 1988-89; pastor of St. Gabriel Parish in Detroit from 1989-92; pastor of St. Francis Xavier Parish, Ecorse, from 1992-97; and pastor of St. Clement Parish, Warren, from 1997-99.

Fr. Anifer served as pastor of St. Mary Magdalen Parish in Melvindale from 1999 to 2011, and for a few years also as pastor of St. Conrad Parish in Melvindale from 2005-08.

He was predeceased by his parents, John and Catherine Anifer, and his sister, Elaine Gezik. He is survived by his brother Andrew and sister-in-law Mary Lou Anifer, and many nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be sent to Mr. Rudy Gezik, 3827 Parsons Road, Carpentersville, IL 60100. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St. Mary Magdalen Parish or Angela Hospice in Livonia.