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Angélique Maher

Sepia-tone photograph of an elderly woman, clad in a long black dress with a wide lace collar. Her white hair is tied in a bun behind her head and covered in a black lace bonnet (a béguin) tied with a large ribbon under her chin. Her hands, crossed on her lap, reveal fingers twisted and worn by old age.

Photographer: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Source: Société d’histoire de la Rivière-du-Nord, Prévost family Fonds
Classification mark: P268,S18,D01

Curé Labelle’s mother, Angélique Maher, was born in 1809. She married Antoine Labelle père, a shoemaker, on December 26, 1831. They had two children; Antoine and Marie, who died at age five. Curé Labelle was very close to his parents, who travelled with him to each of the parishes under his care. The parishioners of Saint-Jérôme were very fond of Angélique, affectionately calling her Madame Curé. She was wholly devoted to her petit garçon, and Labelle in turn held her dear. In 1889, he had a small chapel built next to the presbytery in Saint-Jérome, as his mother’s failing health prevented her from going to church. Angélique Maher died only a few months after her son, and was buried beside the chapel where he was interred.