Obituary of Rev. F. William 'Bill' Mahoney

On January 19, 2016 Father Bill Mahoney passed away joyfully and peacefully at the Pasqua Hospital in Regina. Born in Swift Current, Saskatchewan on August 18, 1938, to Frank and Delia (Demaer) Mahoney, Bill was the youngest of three sons. He was predeceased by his father (1956); mother (1971); nephew Michael Mahoney (1983) and grandnephew Joshua Friesen (2011). He is survived by his brothers, Maurice (Maime) and Brian (Patricia); his nieces and nephews, Patrick, Brian, Kevin, Shannon, Maureen, John, Colleen, Bridget, Sheila, Maura and Kate and many grandnephews and grandnieces. Father Bill’s nephews and nieces affectionately called him “Unc” and he spent many happy days camping, travelling and celebrating family events with them. Father Bill Mahoney attended elementary school at Success, Saskatchewan and high school at Campion College, Regina and St. Peter’s College, Muenster. He entered St. Joseph Seminary in Edmonton where he studied philosophy and then transferred to Le Grand Séminaire de St. Boniface for theological studies which he completed at Le Grand Séminaire d’Ottawa. His ordination was celebrated in his home parish of Sacred Heart in Swift Current on May 19, 1963. The first year of priestly ministry was spent in Gravelbourg working in the marriage tribunal. Living at the Bishop’s House and entertaining an appreciative Bishop DeCosse, as the resident court jester, was part of that experience. Father Bill continued to engage in parish ministry in the former Gravelbourg diocese at Hodgeville, Swift Current and Eastend. He generously gave a great deal of time and energy to the young people of the communities and became known as the “hockey playing priest.” In 1980, Father Bill went to Chicago to study psychology at the Illinois University of Professional Psychology. On completion, he worked as a psychotherapist at Bosco Homes in Regina for troubled youth until its closing, as well as assisting in the parishes at Francis, Central Butte, Marquis, Sedley and elsewhere as needed. Father Bill’s varied ministry also included Personnel Support for the Archdiocese of Regina for many years. He was instrumental in establishing the first diocesan guidelines for dealing with sexual abuse in the church. Many Lay Ministry Formation graduates gratefully acknowledge his encouraging leadership as a coordinator in the program, as well as his custom of sending them home after every weekend with a great joke or story. Father Bill’s involvement with the formation of Development and Peace in Saskatchewan and his time spent working with Mother Theresa in Calcutta attest to his zeal for social justice and the welfare of the underprivileged. The last 13 years of active pastoral ministry were spent at Little Flower Parish in Regina where he was appreciated for the prayerful celebration of the sacraments and his homilies which truly were genuine masterpieces. Father Bill’s ability to inspire, challenge and encourage, his advocacy for social justice and his wise and compassionate leadership were special gifts to the parish. Due to failing health, Father Bill had to retire prematurely in 2009. Luckily for Father Bill, he had his very own angel in Sister Melvina Hruska. Sister Mel cared for Father Bill, allowing him to remain in his home until 2014 when he moved to Santa Maria Senior Citizens Home. With Sister Mel’s assistance, he maintained his home and returned often to the house he so loved right up until his death. Father Bill will be dearly missed by so many. A Celebration of Father Bill’s life will be held at Little Flower Parish Hall, 420 College Avenue, Regina, SK, on Friday, January 29, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will follow in Little Flower Church at 2:00 p.m. Flowers most gratefully declined. Donations may be made in Father Bill’s memory to ACTION AGAINST HUNGER, 720 Bathurst St., Suite 500, Toronto, ON, M5S 2R4 or donate directly at www.actioncontrelefaim.ca.