Br. James Buda, O.F.M.

Br. James Buda, O.F.M., 78, a member of the Franciscan Friars of the Assumption B.V.M. Province, died Monday evening, November 23, 2015, at a Green Bay hospital. The son of Conrad and Irene (Lochinski) Buda was born June 18, 1937 in Bay City, MI. After completing his elementary education at St. Stanislaus Kostka School in Bay City, he left Michigan for St. Joseph School in Pulaski, where he was a student in the first class of the school. On February 2, 1953, he was invested with the tertiary habit. During that time in Pulaski, he was assigned to learn the ways of the laundry and tailor shop under the tutelage of Humphrey Zukowski, O.F.M. He entered the novitiate at Queen of Peace Friary in Lake Geneva, and made his solemn profession on August 15, 1961 at St. Francis Friary in Burlington.
Following his profession, he moved to Stella Maris Friary in Cedar Lake, IN, and then to Christ the King Seminary in West Chicago, IL, where he continued his work in the laundry and as a tailor. Later moves took him to St. Leonard Friary in Saginaw, MI, St. Mary of the Angels Friary in Green Bay, and Assumption Friary in Pulaski. During this time he assumed the role of provincial tailor. Over the years many friars wore, and continue to wear, his signature habit. Br. Jim also served as sacristan and organist for the community.
While in Green Bay he served for 13 years as the local spiritual assistant to the local fraternity of the Secular Franciscans, and as a member of the regional council, regional spiritual assistant, and provincial spiritual assistant. From 1997-2005, Br. Jim served as the Guardian of St. Mary of the Angels Friary. Physical hardships brought about by diabetes brought about a final move to the friary in Pulaski in 2005. He spent his final years with his friar brothers in Pulaski, in a ministry of prayer and tending to other tasks he set for himself.
Br. Jim is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, John & Linda Buda and Michael & Sandra Buda; a sister and brother-in-law, Margaret & Charles Jones, all of Bay City, Michigan; his brothers of the Assumption B.V.M. Province; and several nieces & nephews and the many friends he made over the years. Besides his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Raymond Buda.
Friends may call at Assumption B.V.M. Church, 119 E. Pulaski St., Pulaski, Wisconsin at 9:30 a.m. Monday, November 30, 2015. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Provincial Minister James Gannon, O.F.M. presiding. Burial will follow in the Provincial Cemetery. www.gephartfuneralhome.com