It is with sadness that the Hudema family is announcing the passing of Alfred Alexander Hudema on February 5, 2016.
“Al” was born on April 16, 1928 in Vancouver B.C. As he claimed, Al was named after two Greats: Alfred and Alexander. Al’s dad, Alex, owned a small sheet metal business where Al apprenticed. Al was too young to enlist in WWII but he was in the reserves. While in the reserves, he assisted on the great Fraser River flood of 1948.
Al married Lorna Wilson on July 24, 1948. They subsequently had three children. Al and Lorna moved to Port Alberni in 1951, where he worked in a small sheet metal shop and repaired furnaces on the side. He later got a job in the MacMillan Bloedel Plywood plant as a labourer. After much dedicated study and apprenticing, Al achieved his journeyman ticket as a Steamfitter/Pipefitter. He retired at the age of 60. In the 1970s, Al joined the Fraternal Order of Buffaloes. He was secretary of the local lodge and eventually became Provincial Grand Primo, a post he held with great pride. After more than 45 years on their property in the McCoy Lake area, Lorna and Al moved into a smaller house on Tebo Avenue. In October 2014, Al moved into Echo Village.
Al is survived by Lorna, his loving wife of 67 years; children Larry, Deborra and Susan; daughter-in-law Denise Poupard; grandchildren Jade and Crystal; great-grandson Devin; his sister Dolores Coulombe; numerous nieces and nephews; and close family friend Patrick McGowan.
A memorial gathering will be held March 26 (Easter Saturday) from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the Lawn Bowling Club, 4255 Wallace Street, Port Alberni to celebrate the life of Alfred Alexander Hudema the Great.