But after 11 years owning Jack and Jill Bridal, a shock brain cancer diagnosis will cause Mrs Mahony, and husband Gerry, to close the doors for good in mid-October.

“I’m heartbroken, absolutely heartbroken,” Mrs Mahony said. 

“It just got too hard for me.

“I’m going to miss the girls for certain and the fun we have with them, I’ll miss the staff who have been so loyal and the suppliers who I’ve dealt with for 25 years.”

Mrs Mahony was diagnosed in May and has been undergoing radiation and chemotherapy since. 

“I made spaghetti bolognese,” she said.

“We were both sitting and I had a wave come over me and wasn’t feeling well, it was like flashes, I asked Gerry to come have a look because I thought I was having a stroke, my face felt odd and I couldn’t lift my arm.”

Three hours later, Mrs Mahony was diagnosed with a brain tumor and rushed to the Epworth Hospital in Melbourne. 

Soon she will meet with doctors to determine whether treatment has worked, but specialists say regardless of the result, the cancer would likely reappear elsewhere in her brain. 

Mrs Mahony and husband Gerry are moving to Warrnambool to be closer to her son, daughter, grandchildren and a new cancer centre.

She said closing the business was devastating.  

“It’s sad, it’s sad for staff who have children, it’s sad for Albury-Wodonga and it’s sad for brides,” she said.

“I started about 28 years ago – it’s been a long time and the fashions have definitely changed.

“When I first started, leg of mutton sleeves were very popular.”

Amid a sea of tulle, satin and lace in Jack and Jill Bridal, Mrs Mahony has found generations of Border residents the perfect dress for their wedding or debutante ball. 

She said she had loved being a part of so many special moments. 

“I really don’t know how many brides we’ve had through,” she said.

“If they all held hands they’d probably be from one end of Australia to the other.

“It’s been a lot of brides and a lot see and know me, it makes me smile.

“It’s getting into debutante season and the debs come through and sometimes it turns out I had their mother as a bride –  it’s very special.”

Mrs Mahony said she’s been overwhelmed by the love and appreciation since she announced the closure. 

“I can’t believe how much support we’ve had and how much people thought of me, the store and staff,” she said.

Mrs Mahony said stock was on sale and brides would be looked after.