Charles R. Heudes

Born on the French island of St. Pierre on May 24, 1933, Charlie grew up in a thriving fishing community. He left school at 15 to work full-time in St. Pierre’s bustling shipyards, where he salted and dried cod and worked in a variety of fishing-related jobs before leaving the island at the age of 19 for Montreal. After two years in Canada, Charlie immigrated to the US in 1954, sponsored by the Ozon family, friends of his from St. Pierre who lived in Orleans. Just days after his arrival on the Cape, Charlie starting fishing out of Provincetown on the Captain Bill, a 60-ft. scalloper. He served for a short time in the US Army in 1957 and became a US citizen on April 11, 1960.

Charlie fished for several years out of Provincetown and at one point owned his own boat, the Growler. Most of his fishing career, however, took place out of New Bedford, where he became renowned—and sought after—among the scalloping fleet for his French cooking skills. For over two decades he made regular ten-day expeditions to Georges Bank. Charlie retired from professional fishing in 1985, at the age of 52, after a back injury. He then turned to harvesting clams in Orleans Town Cove, piloting a skiff that his brother, Paul Heudes, built. Charlie was a familiar and friendly face on the Cove and around town, sporting his trademark French beret.

Charlie was a volunteer at the Nauset Fishermen’s Association clambakes in Orleans, as well as in the kitchen of Abba restaurant, where his culinary skills and modest humor gained him many friends among the kitchen and wait staff. He especially enjoyed cooking for those close to him, and his signature recipes included kale soup, clam chowder, fishcakes, and baked cod. He was also an avid walker and could be seen about town in all seasons.

Charlie was predeceased by his brother, Paul, in 2004. He leaves his companion and friend of over forty years, Shirley Blakeley of South Wellfleet, and her family, as well as his cousin Bernard Jezequel (Diane) of St. Pierre et Miquelon.

Visiting hours will be held from 11am-1pm on Wed. Nov. 13 at Nickerson Funeral Home, 77 Eldredge Park Way, Orleans, with a funeral service beginning at 1pm in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Orleans Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: The Provincetown Fisherman’s Memorial, 33 Conant Street, Provincetown, MA 02657