Father Gordon Charles MacLean
June 30, 1932 – March 26, 2022
Father Gordon Charles MacLean, 89, of Halifax, passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 26th. He was born in Elmwood, Lunenburg Co. NS on June 30th, 1932, to the late Daniel and Hazel (Robinson) MacLean. He was predeceased by his parents, brothers William, Bruce, Hewie, and Chester and sister Margaret. He is survived by his sisters, Virginia Wolfe, and Charlotte Burns and brother Daniel as well as several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by many, many friends who cared for him very much.
Fr. Gordon was the first clergyman in the National Defence College, where he was the spiritual director for 28 years. In his earlier years he was flying officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force for six years where he was a radio officer in the Lancaster Bombers.
Fr. MacLean was ordained on April 5, 1964, becoming a well loved and fondly remembered pastor by parishioners from many Halifax/Dartmouth parishes: St. Mary’s Basilica, St. Agnes, St. Peter’s, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Sienna, St. Joseph’s, to name a few. During his time as rector at St. Mary’s Basilica in Halifax, in 1973, he survived a brain tumor. Years later, at St. Joseph’s parish, he recovered from a second brain tumor; he was very proud of his survival from many health issues to almost make it to 90! Fr. Gordon maintained numerous friendships from all these parishes; he was excellent at keeping in touch with people who were important to him.
During retirement, Fr. MacLean worked in Ottawa and later in Newfoundland to fill in for priests in those areas. After returning to Halifax, he lived in his beloved home in Elmwood for a few years, helping in St. Joseph’s Bridgewater and St. Gregory’s in Liverpool and St. Matthew’s in Elmwood, where he had said mass in the summer months for many years. He eventually moved to Halifax to live at St. Agnes Rectory until his recent illness.
Throughout his 58 years as a priest, Fr. MacLean held many positions, within the church and the community, too numerous to mention. He was extremely active until a few months before his death. You would rarely see him walking, instead he moved around almost at a run! He loved to swim and until COVID made it difficult, he went to the pool a few times a week. Fr. Gordon was a lifelong learner, informed and passionate on happenings within the church and over the world.
Visitation will take place from 1-4pm with a Vigil at 7pm on Thursday, March 31 at St. Agnes Church, 6903 Mumford Rd., Halifax. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00am Friday, April 1st, at St. Agnes Church. Internment will take place the same day in the cemetery in Elmwood. Arrangements are under the care of Dartmouth Funeral Home Ltd. 29 Queen St. Dartmouth, NS. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Chalice, 101-26 Union St. Bedford or St. Vincent de Paul (St. Agnes Conference) at the parish office, or a charity of your choice. Online condolences by visiting www.dartmouthfuneralhome.ca
SERVICES
Visitation
Thursday, March 31, 2022
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church
6903 Mumford Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3L 0A4
Evening Prayer Vigil will be 7:00 p.m. also at St. Agnes Church
Funeral Mass
Friday, April 1, 2022
11:00 AM
Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church
6903 Mumford Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia B3L 0A4
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Father Gordon Charles MacLean June 30 1932 March 26 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Dartmouth, Province: Nova Scotia