Earlier this summer, 35-year-old Billy Burgoyne received the worst news anyone could receive: Doctors told him his long battle with cancer would end soon because he only had a short time to live.
When she went to another appointment on July 14, the schedule was much worse.
“They told him he had about 48 hours to live,” said Nikita Mahar, his girlfriend of many years.
Burgoyne and Mahar had been a couple for almost 17 years. Immediately after the date, they decided that they would officially get married.
“We always said we wouldn’t, we always said, why ruin a perfect thing?” Mahar said from his home in Ecum Secum, two hours east of Halifax. “So we moved pretty quickly to have the wedding in his grandfather’s backyard.”
The decision to marry sent their home community of Ecum Secum into a frenzy. The weather was perfect with just one beautiful sun. The wedding was combined with a celebration of life for Billy and many people came to see the wedding and say goodbye.
As his health was failing, Billy Burgoyne sat through most of the marriage service. (Submitted by Jillian Tibert)
“There were so many people who showed up,” Mahar said. “People from all the ball teams he played for and against, the road was closed with vehicles.”
Billy and Nakita were married for four days. On July 20, Billy passed away peacefully at home with his family and some of his closest friends by his side.
Billy spent most of his life living in Ecum Secum. He liked sports, hunting and especially fishing. Both he and Nikita worked in the commercial lobster fishery. Billy also worked on herring fishing teams and recreational fishing was another of his great loves in life.
“We had our rings on and we did our kiss and the moment the wedding was over, he looked at everyone in the crowd and said, ‘I hope you all know, I’m going trout fishing at 4:30.’ , said Mahar.
Billy wasn’t kidding. After hanging out for a while, he left just before five for his last fishing trip.
Billy Burgoyne was a commercial lobster fisherman who also enjoyed recreational fishing (Facebook)
His battle with cancer was a long battle that went back 10 years. At one point, his cancer had gone into remission, but it came back with a vengeance a year ago.
Mahar says her memories of Billy will never fade with time.
“When he got to our wedding kiss he got up so fast and because his legs hadn’t been working very well, I was really surprised,” Mahar said. “He kissed me.”