William Stewart (Bill) Ahern Jr., age 64, passed away unexpectedly on January 30, 2023 while having a hip replacement. Bill was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to Southwest Dekalb High School in Decatur, Georgia graduating in the Class of 1976. Bill graduated from Chattahoochee Technical College with an Associate Degree in Computer Technology and Repair. Bill worked as a produce manager for several grocery chains before settling at Publix as a produce manager for 20 years.
Bill married Sandra Martin Ahern, the love of his life, on August 26, 1995 and was very happily married for 27 years. They lived in Marietta/East Cobb Georgia. They have 5 children, 3 grandchildren, and several nieces, nephews, and great nieces. Family was the most important thing to Bill. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle.
Bill loved watching all sports, especially the Atlanta Braves, the Georgia Bulldogs, and the Atlanta Falcons. He loved chocolate milk and Oreos. He loved his pets Cody, Jolene and MJ. He loved to eat out at his favorite restaurant LongHorn Steakhouse. He loved spending time with his children and enjoyed arguing with them about sports and politics and life. His favorite thing was to get the children riled up into arguing with him. He loved spending time with his grandchildren as well. Bill’s family was the light of his life. His proudest legacy and deepest love was his family.
Bill loved to joke about everything. The most memorable thing about him was his laugh. In his job, all his co-workers remarked about how even-keel he was and that he was a wonderful mentor.
Bill Ahern is preceded in death by his mother Sarah Eunice Mills White, stepfather Al White, father William Stewart Ahern Sr., and stepmother Millie Ahern.
Bill is survived by his wife Sandra Ahern; his children Natasha Ahern, Ashley Glaister (Andrew Glaister), Lindsay Ahern, Emily Ahern, and Tyler Ahern; his sister Rose Ahern Richards (Robert Richards); his stepsisters Cheryl Davis, Debbie Johnston, Lisa Bush and Stephanie Garnto; his stepbrothers Sean White and Stephen White; his grandchildren Michael Griffiths, Parker Wood and Lillian Wood; his nieces Cathy Collier and Holly Stokes (Jack Stokes); his nephews Josh Collier and Bryan Richards (Tristan Richards); his great-nieces Samantha Collier and Sarah Locke.
This was a favorite poem of Bill’s:
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.
I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways,
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days.
I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
Anonymous
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at H.M. Patterson & Son Funeral Home, Canton Hill Chapel, 1157 Old Canton Road, Marietta, GA 30068. Visitation will begin at 1:00 and the service will begin at 2:00. There will be a reception following the service at the Funeral Home.
If you would like to honor Bill Ahern, contributions can be made to The American Heart Association.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hmpattersoncantonhill.com for the Ahern family.
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