Lilias Massey

Lilias Massey
Acting Viceregal consort of Canada
In office
February 28, 1952 – September 15, 1959
Governor‑GeneralVincent Massey
Preceded byCountess Alexander of Tunis
Succeeded byPauline Vanier
Personal details
Born
Lilias Evva Ahearn

1918
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
DiedJanuary 19, 1997 (aged 78-79)[1]
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Spouses
Douglas Byrd Van Buskirk
​
​
(died 1941)​
​
​
(m. 1946; died 1965)​
ParentT. Franklin Ahearn (father)

Lilias Evva Massey (formerly Van Buskirk; née Ahearn;[2] 1918 – January 19, 1997) was a Canadian dignitary, who served as châtelaine of Rideau Hall during her father-in-law Vincent Massey's term as Governor General of Canada.[2][3]

Vincent Massey was a widower whose wife Alice died 18 months before his appointment as Governor General. Lilias, who was married to Vincent and Alice Massey's son, Lionel, is to date the only person to have served as the official host or hostess of Rideau Hall who was not the Governor General's spouse.[4]

Due to the conventions of formal address that were used in the 1950s, she may also be referred to in some references as "Mrs. Lionel Massey" rather than by her own given name.[2] However, she was not given the honorary style of Her Excellency,[5] which is normally given to a Governor General's spouse, nor was she inducted into the Order of Canada.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference obituary was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b c "Mrs. Lionel Massey Leads Busy Social Life". Ottawa Citizen, May 14, 1954.
  3. ^ "Massey Family Arrives in London". Ottawa Journal, July 6, 1957.
  4. ^ "From Autocrat to Adviser: Powers and whims whittled and restrained--the changing role of the Governor-General". The Globe and Mail, May 13, 1967.
  5. ^ "Girl Who Grew Up Around Corner Rideau 'First Lady'". Toronto Star, May 10, 1952.