The Rev. Hubert Norbert Beaudoin, 71, a Norbertine priest at Daylesford Abbey in Paoli and an accomplished artist and teacher, died of throat cancer Thursday at Paoli Memorial Hospital.

Father Beaudoin, born and reared in Chicago, joined the Norbertine Order at St. Norbert Abbey in De Pere, Wis., in 1950. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from St. Norbert College, also in De Pere, in 1953 and was ordained a priest in 1956. In 1962, he graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a master's in fine arts.

Father Beaudoin taught art, music and English and was school minister at St. John Neumann High School in Philadelphia from 1957 to 1963 and from 1969 to 1972. He also taught art at Archmere Academy in Claymont, Del., and at Devon Prep.

As novicemaster at the abbey from 1965 to 1969, Father Beaudoin was responsible for the education of young men in their first year of education as Norbertine priests. He served as spiritual director and art teacher in the abbey's Institute for Religion and Culture from 1997 until his death.

He also served as co-pastor of St. John's parish in Essexville, Mich., and assisted at parishes in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia throughout his career.

He was known as Father Santa Claus to many of his students and friends because of his full white beard and the joy he found in playing St. Nick at Christmas.

As an artist, Father Beaudoin was best known for his watercolors. He not only painted religious subjects but also depicted European street scenes and Southwestern landscapes. His paintings always had a human aspect to them. "They seemed to say, 'Who was sitting in that chair? Who just went out that door?' " said Timothy Ireland, a member of the congregation at the abbey.

Father Beaudoin's paintings appeared in many local art shows and have been purchased by fans. Last year, Villanova University's Connelly Gallery exhibited a retrospective of his work.

Source: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/115655942/hubert-norbert-beaudoin