A local church community is grieving today as they lost a dear friend and priest Tuesday afternoon.

Father Carroll W. Plourde, 57, died unexpectedly Tuesday after celebrating morning mass at Our Lady Queen of Peace in Selma.

Those who knew Plourde from his 20 years in Selma said he will best be remembered for his tireless service.

“He never wanted to place a burden on anyone else for something he could do himself,” said Father Richard Myhalyk, “He also spent a lot of time visiting shut-ins and others who were ill and would help them with their meals and other chores. He was very sensitive to the needs of the people.”

Plourde balanced community service with his duties at two Dallas County churches. Plourde was responsible for mass at Queen of Peace in Selma as well as Immaculate Conception in Orrville.

“He took that very seriously,” Myhalyk said. “Even though it was a smaller group he made sure he provided Sunday mass and Tuesday services. He was a very busy man.”

Plourde, who was also an accomplished cook, never hesitated to prepare delicious meals for the people of the parish, our Queen of Peace layperson Tom Curry said.

“He was a good cook,” he said. “He was always cooking for the people of the parish and most of the big meals we had here, he prepared. He was very energetic.”

The Caribou, Maine native was a 27-year member of the Society of St. Edmund and a priest for 23 years.

During his 21-year religious and priestly life in Selma, Plourde was a member of the advisory board of the Selma, Dallas County Retired Volunteer Program and a member of the Priest’s Council of the Archdiocese of Mobile.

In addition to his Edmundite Brothers, Plourde is survived by his mother Grace (Thibodeau) Plourde of Caribou Maine, and four brothers, Wilfred, William, Roderick and Douglas.

Bishop Moses B. Anderson, Auxiliary Bishop of Detroit and a Selma native, ordained Plourde on June 13, 1987 at the Chapel of Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, Vt.