William "Bill" Willoughby

WILLOUGHBY, William (Bill) Joseph – “Our Hero” left us on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 after a courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis at the age of 53. Bill leaves behind his wife and the love of his life Brenda, his children Jared and Amy who were his universe and his reason for never giving up. Cherished son of Larry and Alice, adored brother of Larry Jr. (Evelyn), Greg (Stephanie) and his beautiful only sister Rhonda (Mark) Semeniuk. Brother-in-law of Denise Sadowski (Fred), Helene Barnes (Albert), Reg (Debbie), Bob and Claude Paradis, late Terry and Rejeanne. Son-in-law of the late Jean Paul and Yvette Paradis. Fun loving uncle of many nieces and nephews. “Buddy” of many, many friends. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Saturday, May 9, 2015 for a Memorial Service at 11 am. Mrs. Helen Smith officiating. Followed by a Celebration of Life. A special thank you to Dr. Cziffer, Vital Air, SAH Emerg Department, ICU, Michelle and the Trillium Gift of Life Network. Memorial contributions to the SAH Cancer Care Fund, Algoma Residential Community Hospice or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com

Celebration of Life by Helene Smith

Funeral Service for Bill Willoughby

May 9, 2015

Carry In: Song : See You Again

We have gathered here today

acknowledging the sacredness of life.

For a human life is truly sacred

Sacred in its being born

Sacred in its living and

Sacred in its dying.

We gather for many reasons.

We gather to celebrate the joys and sorrows of life.

To say goodbye to Bill, the one who we have

known and loved.

Together we also struggle to put some meaning into what has

happened.

And we gather to seek and to offer support and comfort for

one another.

But the most important reason we gather is because of love.

The love we felt and feel for Bill

The love we feel for one another.

As we begin this time of remembrance I would encourage you to

Take a moment – to think about a special memory you have of Bill,

maybe it was something he said,

maybe it was something he did

or maybe it was a time you shared together

just take a moment now to think of that memory

and to hold it in your heart and your mind

as together we celebrate the life of Bill.

Remembrances:

Bill’s sister Rhonda is going to come and share with us now.

Today is a time for memories, a time to remember and share. If anyone would like to come up and share a special memory or story about Bill I invite you to come forward now.

Some of you may have a story or a memory you wish to share and now is the time to do so. Some of you may wish to keep those stories in your heart to cherish and that is good to.

Is there anyone who would like to come forward?

Reading:

The Bible is one of the most read books in the world, for many it is a book of faith but in it are found pieces of great poetry and words of incredible wisdom. The passage I would like to share with you today tells us that there is a pattern, a rhythm to our lives, that there is a time for the good and joyful, a time for the sad and frightening.

Ecclesiastes 3

1For everything there is a season,

and(A) a time for every matter under heaven:

2a time to be born, and a time to(B) die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

3a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4a time to(C) weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to(D) dance;

5a time to(E) cast away stones, and a time to(F) gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to(G) refrain from embracing;

6a time to seek, and a time to(H) lose;

a time to keep, and a time to(I) cast away;

7a time to(J) tear, and a time to sew;

a time to(K) keep silence, and a time to speak;

8a time to love, and a time to(L) hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace

Today you face one of Life’s most difficult moments the loss, the death of a loved one. Death is such a difficult thing for us to understand and accept but when it is in as sudden conditions like this it is almost unimaginable. It is good to be together, at a time like this you need one another; each one of you grieves but when you grieve together, the healing begins.

At a time like this words often fall short of what we really want to say. We find ourselves trying to express not just the grief, but also your joyful feelings for Bill. You recall your love for him and remember his love for you. This is a time when we together to acknowledge the life that was lived and the memories that we share. It is a time in some ways for closure but more importantly it is a time for celebration. Celebration of the man you knew.

There is an old African folk tale that tells of a young student wanting to get a special gift for his treasured teacher. After much deliberation the young student undertakes a difficult and treacherous journey to the seashore to get a shell for his teacher.

After he returns home he takes his gift to his teacher and tells of his adventures and journey and then he presents his gift with these words “journey is part of gift”. Each of you were privileged to share a part of Bill’s journey with him and to you it truly was a gift.

Bill was born in Sault Ste Marie, December 12, 1961 the second oldest of four children of Larry and Alice Willoughby. He had two brothers Larry and Greg and one sister Rhonda. Bill was always quick tempered, but he got over it quickly and forgave and got on with life. Sometimes, he might forget to tell you the forgive part, but he didn’t hold a grudge he just got on with things. You might say he got angry, he got even and then he let go.

Bill was a hard worker, he started working at the Beaver Gas Station when he was sixteen. After he finished school he worked at Algoma Contractors and on the boats and then went to work at the Transportation Department at Algoma Steel. Bill was good at his job. His co-workers said he was the best there was. Bill simply did his job and did it well and expected everyone else to work as hard as he did.

Bill and Brenda officially met at the wedding of a mutual family friend. Brenda had taken her mother and people kept saying when you take your mother home, come back, that guy over there wants to dance with you. Brenda enjoyed dancing so she came back and while I am not sure if they did dance much they did talk and they fell in love almost instantly. Actually Bill was a friend of Terry’s brother and had been at her apartment with him dropping things off and thirteen years before at a wedding of Bill’s cousin, Brenda had stood up in the wedding party and in a group photo she was standing just in front of Bill. It was as if the fates knew they should be together.

Bill was very much an outdoors man. He was an avid hunter and fisher and camper. Brenda wasn’t really into those things but Bill asked only that she try them and she did and loved the out of doors, but a bit on her terms so when Bill went to his camp on Garden Lake, she would go to her trailer. Bill would go to the trailer but Brenda never had been to camp.

Bill and Brenda were blessed with two children Jared and Amy. Bill was a good dad, strict and loving. One of his favourite phrase to them was go school – get a job. The family vacations were always that family oriented. They would go to Great Wolf lodge or Muskegan Adventure Park or Boyne Mountain. Bill would pack them up on the weekend and take the kids to camp. Amy and Jared loved those times.

Everyone at Garden Lake knew Bill Willoughby or Always, which was quite appropriate for Bill had knick names for everyone, Jericho, Aimless, Brendada, Rotten Rhonda and the list goes on. Bill was a character.

Bill was always a planner, he had all the angels figured out and if he could get around something he did. He thought things through before he acted.He liked to organize and direct things. He had and amazing sense of humour and as his brother in law said Bill started the fireworks, his job was to sit back and watch. He would bug, bug, bug until he got something going.

Bill did have a larger than life presence, he was funny and everyone knew him, or knew of him. He livened things up and was always entertaining. Bill could be loud, most people knew him by his voice and his laugh. He had a good group of friend. He was loyal to a fault. This last few months his garage gang have been a lifeline for him. They would pick him up and oxygen in tow take him places.

Bill enjoyed country music and old rock. He liked to read westerns and was a fan of the Food Channel on television. He was a good cook and a great BBQer. He did the cooking at camp and knew how to make his own pasta cause which was good because he loved pasta. He also liked hickory sticks and hard cheese.

Bill didn’t like to throw things out, he felt everything could be reused, PVC pipe, straws, strings of blinds, he could eventually find a use for things. He was a thinker and creative and if he bought something new like a 4 wheeler, after deliberating he would find ways to tweak it, modify it. He is now modifying five other people as Bill was emphatic about being an organ donor and his eyes, his kidneys and his pancreas were donated to others so they might live.

In 2007 Bill was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis a slow moving lung condition. In March 2014 he got pneumonia and it began a very rough year for Bill, he had to be off work which bothered him greatly, he was forever trying to figure out a way to bring his oxygen to work. His plan was that when he got his new lungs he would be able to go back to work. On August 1 of this year, he would have had to retire if he could return to work and Bill was not going to retire.

In February he broke his leg and since then things have gone downhill. In his mind Bill had accepted what was happening and what might be the outcome. He was touching base with old friends and while he accepted what might be, he didn’t accept that it had to be.

He kept himself busy by having Brenda and Jared and Amy teach him the computer, and Bill wasn’t a techie. He did learn how to use Facebook and kept connected and reconnected with people; recently he had them teach him to text. His garage gang texted him everyday and he wanted to learn how to use a smart phone cause the flip phone just didn’t do it for texting.

Thanks to the patience of his wife and children he did learn. When he had enough or got frustrated you would get a one word text and you knew the conversation was done. The text would simply read OVER and it was over.

Bill was frustrated with being immobile. He was a man who always worked hard, who took care of his family and know they were having to take care of him

This past weekend things got critical for Bill, but he was determined to be an organ donor and even though it must have been a difficult time for you going through the waiting and the process you honoured Bill’s wishes. Perhaps that time gave you a chance to say some sort of goodbyes. On Tuesday Bill died.

Earlier I read from Ecclesiastes 3 it tells us to everything there is a season. Bill had many seasons in his life, seasons as son, brother, uncle and friend; seasons of hard work; seasons of joy and laughter and seasons of grief and tears. Those words assures us that life has a rhythm, a balance we go through the good times and the struggles and each season helps to make us the person we are.

Today we gathered to say goodbye to that funny, perhaps stubborn, hardworking man you knew as Bill. As we do always remember this that no matter what happened, no matter where he was, in all things Bill loved his friends and family above all else.

It is so difficult to understand how this unique man, is no longer with us. It is impossible to sum up someone’s life in just a few words, for a life is so much more than words, it is made up of memories and actions, emotions and experiences. Bill had a a good life, a full life, but a life way too short.

I began by telling you about an African folk take that said journey is a part of gift. Journey is a part of the gift and Bill’s knew that, It speaks volumes about his character, about the kind of person he was that even in his dying days he was paving the way for others to live. Bill’s journey was an interesting and in the last year or so a challenging one. It was also a precious and treasured gift to each one of you.

Bill welcomed you on that journey you took together and the memories, the stories, and the love you shared, the lessons you learned were a part of the gift, he gave you his family and friends. You honour Bill’s memory if you continue your journey cherishing the gift life is and embracing it and living it too its fullest just as Bill taught us to.

Music: You’re My Best Friend.

Having remembered Bill’s life and considering Bill’s life in the scheme of Nature and Creation, we accept the loss, knowing that our life continues – richer for Bill’s having lived. It is a natural miracle, a miracle that repeats. We should always celebrate that the elements of the cosmos, that inanimate, soulless stuff of stars came together and became the living and loving person who was Bill, your son, your father, your brother, your uncle, your friend.

This person touched others and shaped our common world. The force of his personality, the truth and love of his life was part of the onward urge of evolving creation. We are, and we are more because Bill lived. We are glad Bill lived. We know that death and love are inextricably joined together. Because we are creatures of memory, our love never ends but is passed on from person to person.

The tree of Life we often speak of is the symbolic tree of generation following generation, from time into time. And we can proclaim that Bill Willoughby’s name has been written on the tree of life forever.

Arnold Crompton prior to his death wrote instructions he wanted his family and friends to follow, I suspect that they may be instructions Bill would want you to follow too:

Instruction by Arnold Crompton

When I have moved beyond you in the adventure of life

gather in some pleasant place

and there remember me

with spoken words, old and new.

Let a tear fall if you will

but let a smile come quickly

for I have loved the laughter of life.

Do not linger too long with your solemnities,

go and eat and drink and talk

and when you can –

follow a woodland trail

climb a high mountain

sleep beneath the stars

swim in a cold river

chew the thoughts of some book

which challenges your soul

use your hands some bright day

to make a thing of beauty

or to lift someone's heavy load.

Though you mention not my name

though no thought of me crosses your mind –

I shall be with you

for these have been the realities of life to me.

When you face some crisis with anguish

when you walk alone with courage

when you choose the path of right

when you give yourself in love

I shall be very close to you.

I have followed the valleys

I have climbed the heights of life.

Benediction:

May the road rise up to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back,

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

And the rains fall soft upon your fields,

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

AMEN.

Out: Butterfly Kisses

Committal

The Love which created us,

the Love which redeems us,

and the Love which sustains us

is present with us now.

We gathered today to honour the life of Bill,

to show our support and comfort for one another

and to express our belief in the power of Life and Love

which is stronger than death and pain.

May we always remember the gift life is

And just how delicacte and precious that gift

We are here today because

Someone who gave your life meaning has died.

someone who brought you joy,

someone who gave you love,

No matter how much you may have prepared yourself,

you were not quite prepared.

No matter how many words you may have shared,

there are things you did not get to say.

Someone who has been a part of your days on earth

no longer walks the earth with you.

Life is not the same. And it hurts.

So what do we do, well maybe not today, or tomorrow

But when the time is right, when you can take a deep

Breathe and not be hit with that all encompassing pain

You/we give thanks

We give thanks for the life of Bill.

And we give thanks for the friendship,

concern and love that filled our lives.

May all who mourn Bill’s death

be granted the gifts of understanding and acceptance

and may we truly find our sense of thanksgiving

for a good, and loving life lived fully and lived well.

We give thanks that Bill was and is a part of our life.

The truth of his life endures and is woven into the fabric

of the larger Life of which we and Bill are all a part.

And now as we remember and say a final farewell

to one held dear,

let us be confident and trusting that a human life

is full of meaning and purpose, even in death.

Jesus said:

"I am the resurrection and the life.

Those who believe in me and die will live

and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26

And so it is

With thanksgiving for the life lived,

and the love shared,

we commit the body of Bill Willoughby

to its final resting place.

Earth to earth,

ashes to ashes,

dust to dust.

Trusting in God’s great mercy.

Bill may you be peacefully in that abiding place prepared just for you

May you be held gently in God’s deeper presence

And may that communion of saints that surrounds us all

Hold you precious until we meet again.

Let us pray:

Eternal God,

in whom we live and move and have our being,

be present with us now.

Draw us nearer and embrace us within your infinite love.

Transform the burden of our pain or doubt

into the freedom of faithfulness and thanksgiving.

Bless us with your healing touch.

We pray in the name of your Son. AMEN

In the spirit of love we have gathered

In the spirit of love we will depart…

Deep peace of the running wave to you.

Deep peace of the flowing air to you.

Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.

Deep peace of the shining stars to you.

Deep peace of the infinite peace to you

Bill Willoughby was an amazing man, funny, witty, smart, energizing, a take action kind of guy, and a man of his word.

Bill was the life of the party so to speak, always making everyone laugh even on your worst day he bring you so much laughter. The quick responses he had were hilarious and often time left you speechless. He made sure if you needed someone he was the go to guy especially with his family and close friends. He was a thinker constantly thinking and making notes to be sure to remember all those things he thought of. As much as Bill loved quiet times he loved being surrounded by friends, Eddy Mac, Ricky Fleming , Albert Petrocco, Ian Jefferson, Dave Russel, Adam Zuccato, and Mike McCarthy. Lets not leave out the wives and kids of all Bill's friends. On occasion friends would stop in and have a coffee or (sometimes a different beverage) like Keith Whitfield, Darren Evans, Fred Sadowski, Helene and Albert Barnes, Greg, and all will be welcome to continue to stop for a visit any time. He enjoyed sitting out on the steps and having our wonderful neighbours walk over Nancy, Richard, Chris and Kelly Dovigi, Bill, Franca McCuaig and of course his parents, Larry and Alice.

Bill was a guy who relied on fact and if he thought you tried to prove him wrong he would find something to prove himself right! He was a man of great morals and instilled that in his wife and children daily. He knew how to problem solve easily and lived life in the moment as much as he was able to. He always looked for the solution to any problem and usually was always right in his way of thinking. Bill was not one to make decisions based solely on feelings, he thought everything out and used the best way he thought things would work. He tried to avoid conflict as much as possible, however in his life he endured some and always in the end forgave and moved on. He took his job as an equipment operator very serious and if something needed attention at work Bill was the go to guy to get things done. Safety was a very big deal to Bill and he taught Jared and Amy to always make sure safety in their jobs and in everything they do is a factor first and foremost, especially given the fact that his Brother-in-law Terry Paradis died as a result of a tragic work related death. Bill was not one to multi-task; however he sure could give orders to JARECO or Amy (Amless) and get quit a bit done at once. He was always a foreman at home but we wouldn’t change that for anything, because he knew that this would allow the kids to learn everything and be very independent individuals and great young adults. Jared at the age of 19 knows so much more than his young life normally allows and this is thanks to his father teaching him everything he knows. Jared refers to Bill as his BEST FRIEND first and his father second. He was his mentor, teacher, friend, hero, and Father. Amy, saw her father as her pain in the butt at times, but she now realizes that everything he did and said always had her best interest at heart. He was her protector, her teacher and her rock and she was definitely “Daddy’s Little Girl”. They so miss him every second of every day and know life will never be the same without their Dad in it. As far as a husband he was amazing, a supporter when I needed one, a lover, a teacher and a hard working man. He loved coming home to me when he knew he would have great meals waiting and a warm hello from me at the end of his days work. He is so missed walking through the door, it breaks my heart.

Bill loved the outdoors from a child his parents, Larry and Alice would bring their kids camping. That is when his love for the outdoors and fishing and hunting started, very young just like he did with his children. Bill was born on 12/12/1961at the General Hospital in Sault Ste. Marie, to Larry and Alice and had one older, one younger brother and only one sister; Larry Jr was older than Bill, Greg was younger and Rhonda was also younger, however Bill made sure to tell everyone that she was his “OLDER” sister (hehe.) They lived in Sault Ste. Marie their whole lives.

FRIENDS

Bill had some great childhood friends from schools he attended that extended right into his adult life. The people who met Bill once would always refer to him as a great friend, he was just that kind of guy and his Celebration of Life so reflected that with the hundreds that attended. We were told that in 22 years that was the biggest one they had done. Warms my heart to know how loved he was.

HIGH SCHOOL

Bill attended Bawating High School and graduated in 1980. Bill went straight from high school into the work force. He worked from pumping gas to working at Essar Steel Algoma.

Bill worked at achieving many tickets for his trade as a Heavy Equipment Operator. His colleagues he worked with always talked so highly about how Bill was an amazing driver and how good he was at his job. We loved hearing these stories, because Bill never brought his work home with him. I never knew all the times he went to HR unless he slipped up talking to someone or about how he would complain about unsafe working equipment. He never talked about Essar or Algoma at home. But we all knew he loved what he did at work and that was drive.

On December 30, 1989 Bill and I attended a wedding for a mutual friend. I went with my Mother (Yvette) and after the dinner she asked that I drive her home and when I announced I was leaving, my brother Terry and others Sandra Bertolo, said you have to come back Bill wants to dance with you. After much persuasion I decided to go back. And there he was sitting at the table with his tie wrapped around his head and feeling no pain. I sat down and the rest as they was history. We talked till…. well into the night and I invited him to my Mother’s house for a New Year’s Party the next night and he accepted. It was instant love for us, the man I had waited so many years for had finally come into my life. Little did I know however that years earlier I had stood up in a friends wedding, who turned out to be Bill’s cousin and there was a picture taken that was all the bridal party and all the extended family over my right shoulder stood a guy with all this wavy hair!!! Yes I said wavy hair, Bill Willoughby. Then Bill became friends with my brother Terry through Sandra and Frank Bertolo and had been to my apartment with Terry a few times and I never thought twice about it because he was just a friend of my brothers. But on that New Year’s night we both knew we were made for each other and never again were we separated.

Bill and I married on November 25, 1995 and we were blessed with our first born Jared who was the most precious gift to us, born on February 8, 1996. Bill absolutely adored his son, they were inseparable, where you found Bill, Jared was right there by his Dad’s side at all times. Bill would strap a baby car seat on the four wheeler and strap it down and take our little man riding at only a few months old. He brought him as young as one year old in diapers and on a bottle out to the ice shack fishing and they were each other’s side kick. They hold such a bond like none I have ever seen. As Jared grew and his little brain could absorb, Bill starting teaching him about the outdoors and everything important in life. When he would visit his friends, Jared was always with him. It really was special. If Bill showed up anywhere and Jared wasn’t with him people would ask where he was. As Jared got older they began the garage visits with Ed, Uncle Al and Ricky, they soon realized that Bill had a best friend and he was Jared. They fished, hunted and camped together always. Bill would buy things like the generator, cargo trailer to name a few and we knew it was to set up his kids for what they loved to do and that was go to camp and enjoy all the things in life they got to share with their Dad. Amy from the day she was born on August 14, 1997 became “Daddy’s little girl” and he taught her to be a little lady, but to also be a tom boy of sorts I guess. She loved to hang with Dad at the Bush Camp at Garden Lake, she fished with her Dad and loved just spending time with him doing what he loved. He bought her the first fishing rod she would own and she will always cherish that. She just obtained her hunting license this spring and had planned to all hunt with her Dad in the Fall of 2015. This will not come to be, however they will continue to do the things that meant so much to Bill. The kids adored their father in a way that warms my heart and brings tears to my eyes. He was an AMAZING father and everything he did was for the kids and I. We are blessed in ways no one can see with the human eye in our hearts and souls with his love and all his life lessons.

As a husband I was so lucky to have had him, although not long enough. Bill left me way too soon and we had so much more life to live. He was an amazing provider, lover and my best friend. We found each other later in life, but we spent such wonderful years together. Not a perfect marriage by any means but we really were each others other half. We had very few disagreements if you will and always he was the first to “makeup.” Communication was always big with Bill and that was something in the beginning I didn’t do so well, but he taught me and it was why we had such a great marriage. We allowed each other to do things with others, he hunted, fished and went to the bush and I went to my trailer and he came from time to time, I had my monthly dinners with the ladies, or my shopping and skating trips. This is what made our marriage so strong and we had a bond that is truly hard to find. We loved and adored each other and for that I am so grateful beyond words. Friends would tell me how much he would tell them how lucky he was to have me in his life and I would do the same. We were so good together. What a man he was, he made me laugh every day, he taught me so much and shared so much with me. I remember him telling me to try things like camping, fishing and such, and well low and behold I ended up enjoying the greatest things in life. Thank you honey for all you have given and done for me and the kids, you’re an unselfish husband and father.

Although we never travelled to exotic places we did our travels with our kids in mind, always to water parks or places the kids would have a blast at and that made Bill a happy man. We always hoped one day to go somewhere with friends but unfortunately that wasn’t in the cards for us. But to me I was happy just to be where he was. Bill had his share of pets, when we met he had Shea and a black cat named Sammy, well that dog hated me because I took Bill from her so she gave me such grief, but in the end I won the prize and Shea had to find a new home. Then together we had Murphy, then Joey. Bill always talked about getting a service dog to be able to let us know when a coughing spell was coming but that to, never came to be.

Bill started to get tightness in his chest back around 2007 and was making frequent trips to the Emergency and being told it was anxiety. After a few of these trips they discovered some shadowing in his lungs and did further testing and it was discovered Bill had Pulmonary Fibrosis. I remember our Family Doctor calling me in to tell me how serious this disease was and that it was terminal and had no cure. Bill was given a Lung Biopsy in 2009 and was told it was indeed Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis and that they were sure it was caused by his exposure to chemicals at work. It was at this time we were referred to the Toronto General Hospital Transplant team of doctors. Up until 2015 Bill did not meet the requirements to be placed on the transplant list, however he was willing to do some clinical trials. It was during these years that being a donor meant so much to Bill, because without donors, he would not be able to get a set of lungs. We spoke often among ourselves and with our lawyer that becoming a donor is a definite thing we choose to do in the event we pass. Bill broke his leg on February 22, 2015 when he collapsed having a coughing spell and was never again able to walk. It was during this troubling time that he received word that we would have a video conference on May 7, 2015, with a Toronto Transplant doctor in the hopes of being put on the transplant list. We began preparations for our move to Toronto and we were scared as heck. Then one morning Bill wasn’t well and things took a turn for the worst and as hard as he fought his battle against this horrible disease, it got the better of him and he succumbed to it. Bill looked into the doctor’s eyes and was determined about being an organ donor when asked if he would want to be placed on life support. I knew his wishes and would honour those for him at any cost. So on the 1’st of May Bill was placed on a ventilator initially in the hopes of finding maybe pneumonia and all will be well in a few days, however this was not the course of action. Bill made the decision in the ER to be placed on support in the hopes a recipient would be found who could use one or more of his organs to continue to live. On May 4’th it was two kidneys that were to be used one in Toronto, and one in London. Things were put in motion by the Trillium Coordinator Michelle and we waited. Just prior to the arranged time we were informed that a team could not get to the Sault at that time so we chose to wait until the following morning. During that night as Jared and Amy lay with me by their father’s side Jared said “wouldn’t it be nice Mom if they could use more organs by waiting.” I said, “yes honey that would be a miracle.” So the following morning the process began, and might I add what a process this is, from the Trillium Coordinator, to the Trillium Teams that arrived to the Sault Area Hospital staff of Doctors and Nurses, the process was in itself an amazing. Thank you to all who made Bill’s dream of becoming a donor a reality. Bill. in the end saved two men’s lives with his kidneys, his pancreas will enhance the lives of several people with his islets and his eyes will be used to give sight toone or two who cannot see. This is a man of such strength and love and even in death he gave. This Hero was our husband, father, son, brother and dear friend. He will always be our HERO.

Here is a copy of the letter I received on June5, 2015 from Trillium Gift of Life Network

June5, 2015

Brenda Willoughby

Dear Brenda

On Behalf of Trillium gift of Life Network, the recipients, and their families, we would like to extend to you and your family our deepest sympathy on the loss of your husband William. We also want to thank you most sincerely for allowing him to be an organ and tissue donor.

As a result of your generous gift, 2 people with terminal medical conditions were helped. Two young adult males both with end stage renal disease received kidney transplants. These individuals were given the opportunity for a longer and better quality of life as the result of your compassionate decision.

In addition, your consent to the donation of your husband's pancreas for islets will benefit the lives of recipients through future tissue transplantations. Williams yes were recovered with the hope of restoring sight to blind patients.

Again thank you most sincerely for agreeing to organ and tissue donation in the midst of your sorrow and loss. It is our hope that you receive some comfort from this unique memorial to your husband William and his legacy of life.

The number given to Bill as his donor number is 256983..........................forever etched in my mind and my heart.

In receiving this letter I was so touched by the sacrifice Bill made in order to give the greatest gift to others. It will forever be in our hearts the numbers 5….5….5…. as he passed on the fifth day of the fifth month and gave 5 organs in the year 2015.

Enclosed you will read letters from Jared and Amy and myself to Bill which we will share with those who have the opportunity to read this book.

To my love

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the years you gave me, although not long enough, they were filled with great memories to carry me through my darkest days. I love to look at your picture and into those beautiful eyes and think that they will once again make someone see who could not. I also think of the two men who got to go home to their families with your gift and I am grateful to for that. As for me I will never find another love like we had. I carry you in my heart and hold your print in my hand every day. I cry when I’m alone and I know your there to comfort me.

I love you more today than yesterday and know we will one day be united by love. I asked Angela to deliver a message to you and she promised she would and I feel like you were one there to greet her when she arrived in heaven. I promise you to be there for our kids and to do right by you honey. You are my Hero, my love, my everything and help me to cope without you. Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox LOVE "B"

To My Best Friend

Hey dad, just sitting here thinking about you, seems I cant keep you off my mind no matter what I do, but you'd be proud I graduated college and I’m back to work again….I just cant help but hear your voice every time I go to do something, and I miss those 3 o'clock calls to go pick you up, or calling out for another beer…,I miss you more with each day but I love you…..

Miss you more and more everyday, just thinking of the fishing trips, four wheeler rides, and hunting trips that i will no long have you there for hurts, going to camp yesterday with out you felt weird knowing you wont be back, and i still hear your voice in the back of my head asking for a beer when we get there.. Love you dad

Dad I always said you were my best friend and I miss you more than anything in this world. I never realized just how much we talked, texted, and just spent time together until you weren’t here any more. I want to be able to talk and text you, I miss those late night calls

. Miss you……………..Love You xoxoxoxoxo

Jared

Dear Daddy

Here I am soon to be 18 and I don’t have you with me, but I know you are here in spirit.

Daddy, everyday and every night I sit here waiting for your call or your text or a message on my voice mail asking me where I am and what I’m doing and why I’m there or with those people. Some days I just feel so lost without you and I don’t know what to do. Then other days I can feel you helping me through my days! I miss you so much daddy and you mean the world to me and I know that now you are in a better place and will forever be with me. You are and forever will be the most amazing man, the strongest man, and the bravest man I have and ever will know. You showed me the way to make my life nothing but the best; you have showed me everything I need to know from fishing to hunting and from how to deal with mom and Jared (haha). I miss you so much dad and I know one day we will we will meet again and it will be like we were never apart<3 I love you so much daddy and I miss you even more. I hope your beer is cold and the food is good!<3

We all hope that when you left us you went into the arms of Jesus and seen all that have gone before you. There are so many family and friends there and I envisioned them waiting on the steps of Heaven for you to arrive. I seen you in my thoughts walking and breathing and smiling with no more pain or difficulties breathing.......my love that is the only thing that holds me together is knowing you hurt no more and you are at peace.......I love you tons and tons but you already know that.....

Ran into Katie and little Joseph Zuccato today and Joseph said "hello Willoughby's Mom"...he called me that because I ran Bill his cooler bag one day and Joseph thought it was his lunch haha......he asks me to ask him what kind of summer he is having and I ask him and he replies "not good I miss Willoughby so much" and then he says my dad misses him so much......broke my heart and had to leave the store... You even left such an impression on a little guy like that....well Joseph I guess we all miss him...so very very much!!

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WILLOUGHBY, William (Bill) Joseph – “Our Hero” left us on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 after a courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis at the age of 53. Bill leaves behind his wife and the love of his life Brenda, his children Jared and Amy who were his universe and his reason for never giving up. Cherished son of Larry and Alice, adored brother of Larry Jr. (Evelyn), Greg (Stephanie) and his beautiful only sister Rhonda (Mark) Semeniuk. Brother-in-law of Denise Sadowski (Fred), Helene Barnes (Albert), Reg (Debbie), Bob and Claude Paradis, late Terry and Rejeanne. Son-in-law of the late Jean Paul and Yvette Paradis. Fun loving uncle of many nieces and nephews. “Buddy” of many, many friends. Friends may call at the Arthur Funeral Home & Cremation Centre on Saturday, May 9, 2015 for a Memorial Service at 11 am. Mrs. Helen Smith officiating. Followed by a Celebration of Life. A special thank you to Dr. Cziffer, Vital Air, SAH Emerg Department, ICU, Michelle and the Trillium Gift of Life Network. Memorial contributions to the SAH Cancer Care Fund, Algoma Residential Community Hospice or the charity of your choice would be appreciated. Expressions of sympathy may be offered at www.arthurfuneralhome.com