Detroit — Msgr. Ferdinand DeCneudt, the oldest priest in the Archdiocese of Detroit, was still regularly celebrating Mass right up until a week before his death.
“He said Mass here on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 11 o’clock,” said Fr. Ronald Babich, pastor of Our Lady Queen of All Saints Parish in Fraser.
Msgr. DeCneudt had been the regular celebrant of that Mass in recent years, despite his advanced age — he turned 98 in September — and infirmities (he had lived since the late 1930s with only one leg, and had more recently gone blind in one eye).
Although he could still walk some with the aid of a walker, it became too difficult for him to walk in the procession or stand during Mass early this year. But parishioners constructed a movable altar of celebration so he could preside while seated in his wheelchair.
“When I came here (as pastor) in 1994, he told me, ‘Remember, Ron, don’t let me rot in my apartment — I’m willing to help.’ And he’s been helping ever since,” Fr. Babich said.
He also noted that Msgr. DeCneudt also celebrated Mass several times a week for residents of the Roseville senior citizen residence where he lived.
“This parish was truly blessed by his ministry here,” Fr. Babich said of Msgr. DeCneudt, who had been pastor of Our Lady Queen of All Saints from 1964 until 1982.
Long-time parishioners and those newer to the parish loved him, and he was always interacted very well with them, Fr. Babich continued.
“He was especially good about remembering people’s names, and the names of their family members,” he said. “He might have been 98, but from the neck up, he was still in his 40s.”
For Fr. Babich, the elder priest was not only a help, but also a model
“He never asked anybody for anything, but he always continued to give,” he said. “He was the greatest man I knew, and an inspiration to me as a priest.”
Fr. Babich added that it was appropriate that Msgr. DeCneudt died Sunday, Nov. 21 — the feast of Christ the King.
“About 4 o’clock in the afternoon, he just peacefully went to heaven,” he said. “He got his crown.”
Archbishop Allen Vigneron, after learning of his death, said, “I always admired Msgr. DeCneudt as one of the pillars of the presbyterate.”
Peggy Bernardo, who had been parish secretary during Msgr. DeCneudt’s pastorate in Fraser, remained a faithful friend, often driving him to doctor’s appointments or just taking him shopping or out to lunch.
“Other than my husband, he was the most wonderful man I ever knew — kind, thoughtful, humble, and nothing was ever too much for him,” she said.
Fr. Babich said some parishioners noticed Msgr. DeCneudt wasn’t quite himself Nov. 14, and then he fell at his apartment during that following week, also hitting his head. Although he went in for X-rays, the doctors sent him back home.
But Saturday morning, Nov. 20, a visitor found him looking pale and sick. He was taken to St. John Macomb Hospital in Warren, where he was put on oxygen and seemed to improve.
But Sunday morning he took a turn for the worse, experiencing renal failure and slipping into a coma.
Ferdinand J. DeCneudt was born Sept. 23, 1912, in Ghent, Belgium, and his earliest memory was of the day in October 1914, just one month after he turned 2 years old, when the Germans marched into Ghent during World War I.
Another vivid childhood memory was sitting on his father’s shoulders on Nov. 11, 1918, in the town square as the people of Ghent celebrated the armistice that ended the war.
He also recalled arriving in New York City with his father, mother and sisters on July 4, 1920.
The family made its way to Detroit, and lived in what was then St. Catherine Parish. He attended St. Catherine Elementary School, then Cass Technical High School, before transferring to Detroit Catholic Central High School, of which he has been recognized as its oldest surviving alumnus. He then attended Sacred Heart Seminary.
After he was ordained in 1939, then-Fr. DeCneudt served as an assistant pastor at Our Lady of Sorrows, the historic Belgian ethnic parish on the city’s lower east side, and then at Our Lady of Victory in the Eight Mile-Wyoming area, which was a mission to the black community.
He was pastor of Madonna Parish before going to Our Lady Queen of All Saints, where he build the present church. He was named a monsignor in 1969, and retired from the parish in 1982.
Msgr. DeCneudt is survived by great-nephews and great-nieces, John C. Begin, Michael W. Grant, Sandra Turnbull, and Susan Burgard; and many great-great nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated last Saturday, Nov. 27 by Archbishop Vigneron at Our Lady Queen of All Saints Church, Fraser. Burial was in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Roseville.
Condolences may be sent to John C. Begin, 16184 Forest Way, Macomb, 48042.
Related Item: Death Notice for Monsignor Ferdinand J. DeCneudt
