Rose Marie & Victor Mahar
When Rose Marie Mahar talks about her family’s connection to Saint Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, there is no missing the pride in her voice. Rose Marie’s husband, Victor is a 4th generation parishioner who was baptized at the Basilica, served as an altar boy for many years, and worked on the parish council for many more. His parents and grandparents were also members of the parish.
Rose Marie has been a parishioner since 1952, when mass was always very well attended. “I remember when I first came to Halifax, they had to seat parishioners in the basement for Sunday mass because the pews in the main church were full.”
Since those days, Rose Marie and Victor have served the parish in many roles, including as lay distributors for more than 50 years. They’ve observed many parish and family occasions at Saint Mary’s, including baptisms, weddings, and funerals. “When our children got married at the Basilica, they had to make arrangements about a year ahead of time because there were so many weddings being held there. I think we got first dibs because we were parishioners.”
A family photo, celebrating the baptisms of Rose Marie and Victor's first two grandchildren, Robin Mahar and Liam Thompson.
In 1993, Rose Marie and Victor's daughter, Anne Marie, married David Thompson in a beautiful military wedding
Rose Marie and Victor’s four children, Bill, Anne Marie, Mary Lou and Elizabeth, all sang in Fr. White’s children’s choir. Many years later, Bill and his wife Jennifer, both professional musicians, celebrated Christmas each year by playing trumpet and saxophone at midnight mass.
Rose Marie and Victor's son Bill and his wife, Jennifer played at Christmas Eve mass for many years.
The family also celebrated the lives of their family members at funerals held at Saint Mary’s. Rose Marie has a fond memory of one particular funeral: “When Victor’s mother, Alice, died in 1986, her funeral was very well attended. She had been a faithful parishioner and knew everybody. She was also a cat lover. On the day of her funeral, the long-haired cat that lived at the glebe followed the casket into the church and to the front of the altar, where it sat during the funeral, watching the mourners. I am sure Alice appreciated his visit!”
- Rose Marie & Victor Mahar
Halifax, NS