Earlier this summer, 35-year-old Billy Burgoyne received the worst news anyone could receive: Doctors told him his long battle with cancer would soon be over because he only had a short time to live.
When he went for another appointment on July 14, the schedule was much worse.
“They told him he had about 48 hours to live,” said Nikita Mahar, his longtime girlfriend.
Burgoyne and Mahar had been a couple for almost 17 years. Immediately after the arrangement, they decided that they would officially marry.
“We’ve always said we’re not going to do it, we’ve always said, why ruin a perfect thing?” Mahar said from his home in Ecum Secum, located two hours east of Halifax. “So we moved pretty quickly to have the wedding in his grandfather’s backyard.”
The decision to marry caused an uproar in their home community of Ecum Secum. The weather was picture perfect with nothing but beautiful sunshine. The wedding was combined with a celebration of life for Billy and many people came to see the wedding and say goodbye.
With his health failing, Billy Burgoyne spent most of the marriage service. (Submitted by Jillian Tibert)
“There were so many people who showed up,” Mahar said. “People from every ball team he played for and against, the road was just blocked with vehicles.”
Billy and Nakita were married for four days. On July 20th, Billy passed away peacefully at home with his family and a few of his closest friends by his side.
Billy spent most of his life in Ecum Secum. He loved sports, hunting and especially fishing. He and Nikita worked in the commercial lobster fishery. Billy also worked on herring fishing crews and recreational fishing was another of his great loves in life.
“We had rings on and we kissed, 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,'” Mahar said.
Billy wasn’t kidding. After spending time at the social gathering, he left just before five o’clock 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 going back 10 years. At one point his cancer was in remission, but it came back with a vengeance a year ago.
Mahar says her memories of Billy will never fade with time.
“When it came to our wedding kiss, he stood up so quickly and because his legs weren’t working very well, it really shocked me,” Mahar said. “He kissed me.”
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