Br. Theophane Fred Woodall

Br. Theophane (Fred) Woodall, C.PP.S.

February 7, 1939 – September 28, 2024

Br. Theophane Woodall, C.PP.S., 85, died at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 28, in the infirmary at St. Charles Center, Carthagena, Ohio, where he had lived and ministered for 55 years. He had been in failing health in recent years.

He was born in Dayton to Charles and Grace (Salisbury) Woodall and was raised in nearby Miamisburg. He entered the Congregation in 1953 and was professed as a religious brother on August 15, 1959. He celebrated his 65th anniversary as a religious brother earlier this year.

After his profession, Br. Theophane ministered for nine years at Brunnerdale, the Congregation’s former high school seminary near Canton, Ohio. He then served for a year at St. Mary’s Novitiate in Burkettsville, Ohio, before his assignment in 1969 to St. Charles Seminary, now St. Charles Center, in Carthagena, Ohio, where he served the Missionaries in countless ways.

Br. Theophane was the coordinator of liturgy and sacristan at St. Charles for many years. He was also the assistant business manager in the 1990s. Even after he retired as sacristan in 2018, he continued to serve as organist and as St. Charles’ local director. He also directed the Precious Blood Resource Center there. For 22 years, he taught high school religious education classes in several Mercer County parishes.

He is survived by nieces and a nephew.

He was preceded in death by his sister and her husband, Ann Louise and James V. Smith, and brother William Woodall.

Br. Theophane was droll, kindly, eminently efficient, keenly observant and above all, committed to his Congregation and his faith, to which he devoted his life. As St. Charles’ sacristan, he managed every detail of every liturgy, whether daily Mass or a large Community celebration, with aplomb. He quietly went about the chores of setting up and tearing down after big events. He knew where everything was kept, knew every corridor and hidden closet at St. Charles, and was the world champion at getting red wine stains out of liturgical linens.

Br. Theophane appeared most at home at the console of St. Charles’ historic Holtkamp organ, which was his partner in ministry for all those years. He generally wore a cassock and mission cross as he went about his day. He was a true brother to his fellow religious brothers, and as valiant a Missionary who ever lived when he opened the upper and lower ranks of the Holtkamp’s pipes during a closing hymn. Many a soul was thrilled by the sound and went forth fortified.

Ever self-effacing yet firmly in control of Assumption Chapel, he performed his many duties in the chapel and halls of St. Charles in a way that seemed effortless. Yet when one looks at the sum of his ministry, it is a wonder how he ever did it all.

A wake service will take place at 7 pm on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, in the Assumption Chapel at St. Charles.

Visitation will take place at St. Charles Senior Living Center (2860 US 127, Celina, Ohio 45822) on Wednesday, October 2, 2024 from 10 a.m. to time of funeral in the parlor.

Funeral will be on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, at 2 p.m. in the Assumption Chapel at St. Charles Senior Living Center, Celina, Ohio.  Fr. Dennis Kinderman, C.PP.S. will be the presider and Fr. Larry Hemmelgarn, C.PP.S. will be the homilist.