Modest monument to Bishop O’Leary features ‘One Who Serves’ motto

BANGOR – Walking through Mount Pleasant Cemetery on Ohio Street, you’d never guess which monument belongs to the Most Rev. Edward C. O’Leary, the native son who served as Roman Catholic bishop of the Diocese of Portland.

It’s not one of the massive crosses that can be seen from the street. Those mark the resting spot of Monsignor Edward McSweeney, pastor at St. John’s in Bangor, 1874-1908; and of Monsignor John W. Houlihan, pastor at churches in Dexter, 1895-1909; and Portland, 1909-1945.

O’Leary is buried not far from the main gate, next to the stone he picked out when his father died. On the front of the monument of Vermont granite are carvings of a chalice, in honor of O’Leary’s priesthood; and the scales of justice, signifying that his father was a lawyer.

On the back, the left side of the monument commemorates O’Leary’s parents: Cornelius Joseph O’Leary, who died in 1969; and Annabel Cecilia McManus, who died in 1975; a brother-in-law; and a sister who is still living.

Eight lines of text tell the bishop’s story briefly:

Most Reverend

Edward Cornelius O’Leary

Ordained Priest June 15, 1946

Ordained Auxiliary Bishop of

Portland January 25, 1971

Installed Ninth Bishop of

Portland December 18, 1974

August 20, 1924 – April 2, 2002

Above the text is O’Leary’s coat of arms, which is individual for each bishop. At the bottom of the coat of arms is his motto, “One Who Serves.”

The hand carving of the coat of arms and text was a two-day project for Jack Rogan, the third generation of his family to own Rogan’s Memorials Inc. on Ohio Street before he sold the business to Dick Coffin.

Grandfather John Rogan founded the company in 1881, then passed it on to Rogan’s father, William. Jack Rogan still works for the company, and can be found at Rogan’s most mornings.

Rogan has been in the business for 55 years, and also is a distant cousin of the bishop.

He was already familiar with then O’Leary monument, he said, “I put up the original when his father died.”

It didn’t surprise Rogan that O’Leary stayed with his decision to be buried in the family plot, rather than opt for something grander when he was ordained a bishop.

“He was sort of conservative,” Rogan said.