Mahone Funeral Home has historical roots dating back to 1883
One
can’t travel the lighthouse Route of Nova Scotia without stopping at
Mahone Bay, where the architecture is a feast for the eyes and the
three waterfront churches are among the most photographed scenes in
the provinces. And a block or two from the waterfront at 32 Parish
Street is Mahone Funeral Home with a history dating back to 1883.
Some say the Indians gave this town of eleven hundred its first
name, "Mush-A-Mush". And the French would later call it "Mahonne", a
predecessor of the current name "Mahone".
The town was founded in 1754 and was once home to privateers who
roamed the coast in search of booty. Grim reminders of the past are
names like Murder Point and a short distance away is Oak Island
where the pirate Captain Kidd is reputed to have buried his
treasure.
The bay is one of Nova Scotia sailing havens with many inlets, coves
and some 365 islands, all awaiting discovery. Each July the town
celebrates its heritage of shipbuilding and sailing vessels with the
Wooden Boat Festival.
It was in Mahone Bay that David Zink started an undertaking business
in 1883, initially serving the area beginning at the historical
fishing town of Lunenburg and extending along the coast to the
retirement village of Chester. He died in 1934 and was succeeded by
his son William who operated Zink’s Undertaking Parlor and an
ambulance service. Over the years the Zink family witnessed the
change from horse drawn hearse to motorized funeral coach. Upon
William’s death in 1948 the firm then passed into the hands of his
daughter Mildred, who later married William (Bill) MacKenzie
Freeman, an employee of some standing. For sometime thereafter the
home was operated as Freeman’s Funeral Parlor and later was
incorporated and known as "Mahone Funeral and Ambulance Service
Company Limited".
William Freeman had apprenticed with William Zink and wrote his
embalmer’s exam in 1952. He has many memories of funeral service in
the region; going to the homes of the deceased and embalming and
casketing in close proximity to the family. For many years William
Freeman, and later Robert Morse, not only performed their own
embalming but also that for the Wamback Memorial Chapel, which had
been located in the neighboring town of Bridgewater. Freeman spent
thirty-five years in funeral service and at the age of fifty-five he
entered retirement, selling the home in February, 1979 to Robert
Morse who had joined the firm January 7, 1974 and who had first
started in the profession in Halifax in 1972 prior to coming to
Mahone Bay.
Robert Morse apprenticed under William Freeman, receiving his
professional license in 1977. The funeral home today is at the same
location the Zink’s started out, but additions and alterations have
given it a quiet beauty on the tree-lined street in this gracious
old town were all faiths continue to be served. Besides the three
famous churches, being the Anglican, Lutheran and United, two other
churches are located within the town, the United Baptist and
Pentecostal. Roman Catholic families are served through churches in
nearby towns of Lunenburg or Bridgewater.
Robert Morse married the former Christine Rhuland, from nearby
Oakland in October of 1988. Their family includes son, Robert
Andrew, son Benjamin Brian and daughter Jenny Marie Kathleen.
Christine is a daughter of William Rhuland, who had assisted William
Freeman for many years and later lent a hand in his son-in-laws operation until his passing on February 5, 2006
Mahone Funeral Home operates with a staff of two full time
employees, Robert and Christine Morse and one casual part-time employee,
Annette Wagner, a licensed funeral director and apprenticing
and embalmer. The ambulance division of the business was sold to a
neighboring operator on January 15, 1997.
Robert had formerly served as a director and secretary-treasurer on
the board of directors of the Nova Scotia Licensed Embalmers’ and
Funeral Directors from 1986 to1997 and was a past director and
secretary of the Ambulance Operators Association of Nova Scotia From
1994 -97 he was a councilor for the Town of Mahone Bay, where he
chaired the Police Commission and Fire Protection Committee.
The current chapel facility of Mahone Funeral Home allows for the
seating of 150 people in air conditioned comfort. The visitation
rooms are decorated and furnished in a way that a homey, living room
surrounding prevails.
Mahone Funeral Home offers a full compliment of services and
merchandise for burial and cremation service, designed to meet the
beliefs and be within the means of the families we serve.
Traditional, memorial or simple arrangement selections for at need,
pre-paid or pre-arranged services are available.
