WILLIAM EDWARD WOODBECK
July 21, 1935 - July 25,
2013
Every once in a while a man comes
along whose major purpose it seems is to bring joy to others. Such a man was
William (Bill) Woodbeck. Bill’s family has had the great pleasure and honour of
sharing in his life and has experienced the indescribable joy that he brings to
others.
Bill’s family is both sad and joyful
at this time. We are sad to be losing someone who has enriched the lives of so
many, and we are overjoyed that HE is suffering no longer and is with God
enjoying the fullness of life. Bill passed away on Thursday, July 25, 2013 in
the loving presence of family and in the compassionate care of Grace Hospice
staff. His last few months of trial with cancer were lived in the same way that
he lived his entire life - with humour, caring, patience, love and a mischievous
twinkle in his eye. Bill helped to prove that it is hard to keep a good man
down. Even down to the last few days the old Bill would shine through the pain
and confusion and remind us all of what he had given us.
Left behind to continue Bill’s
legacy are his loving wife Kathy of 52 years; eldest son Dean with wife
Mariette and grandchildren Nathaniel, Elyssa and Benjamin; middle son Daryl
with wife Wanda and grandsons Jacob and Lucas; youngest son Patrick with
husband Doug and grandsons Joshua and Caleb. Also left behind to mourn are
Bill’s brothers Fred (Marlene), Ron (Shirley) and Reg (Karen); sisters Joan
(Al) Mary, Margaret, Judy and Joanne (Kevin). He is also grieved by numerous
nieces; nephews and their children. He was predeceased by his father Albert
Edward; mother Olga Boychuk and sister Ellen.
Bill was born in Thunder Bay,
Ontario and had an early life full of challenges and adventures. He was always
reluctant to speak about his early life but the stories he did have pleasure in
relating involved the close camaraderie which he shared with his brothers and
sisters and the humour was evident in many of these stories. After school Bill
was trained and employed as a plumber/pipefitter and worked with his father and
brother Reg for a short while. He met his second half and the love of his life
Kathy, they wed in the summer of 1961 and had three boys in 1962, 1963 and in
1964. Bill worked in construction for several years and finally landed a job at
the Whiteshell Nuclear Research Establishment in 1969, with the family settling
in Pinawa. While in Pinawa, Bill was often found at the arena where he was an
avid supporter of Dean’s hockey teams or spent hundreds of hours playing music
for Patrick and the rest of the figure skating club. He and Kathy loved getting
together with friends to play cards or other games, square dancing and enjoy
laughs and good times. Bill spent many hours watching plant league softball or
coaching Bill’s Boys. He retired from AECL in 1995 and began his second and
very rewarding career as a Deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. Bill served the
people in the parishes of St. Mary’s Parish in Beausejour and Mary Mother of
the Church in Winnipeg. Some of his favourite parts of being a Deacon were
taking communion to shut-ins and making time for each and every one of them by
sharing stories and laughs. He worked to include children in liturgies helping
them to feel welcome and important and loved to share his faith with other
parish members. Bill and Kathy also enriched numerous lives through their
participation in Marriage Encounter, Marriage Preparation courses and in the
Rites for Christian Initiation of Adults. They have gathered many friends
throughout their pursuits and have formed life giving relationships which
continue to nurture all involved.
Prayers will be held at Monday
evening, July 29, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. in Mary Mother of the Church, 85 Kirkbridge
Drive in Winnipeg. Funeral Liturgy will be Celebrated on Tuesday, July 30, 2013
at 11:00 a.m. also in the Church with His Grace Msgr. Albert LeGatt,
Archibishop of St. Boniface, and Rev. Fr. Kevin Bettens, presiding. Honourary
pallbearers will be Bill’s grandchildren.
A very special thank you goes out to
the incredible, compassionate and caring nurses and staff at the Grace Hospice.
You are amazing examples of what it means to care. Another special thank you
goes out to the doctors, nurses and staff at Victoria Hospital, particularly
Dr. Cal a man who is truly doing the job he was meant for. We also extend a
thank you and a “God Bless You All” to the many people who have shown Dad and
us generous support and prayers, which have helped sustain us during this
journey.
In lieu of flowers we welcome
donations to the Grace Hospice, the Victoria Hospital Foundation or Cancer Care
Manitoba.
Wojcik’s
Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 2157
Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, wojciksfuneralchapel.com,
204 – 897 - 4665.
“A
hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was,
the
sort of home I lived in or the kind of car I drove,
but the world may be different because I was
important in the life of a child.”
–
Forest Witcraft
Wojcik’s
FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM
2157 PORTAGE AVENUE
204 – 897 - 4665
www.wojciksfuneralchapel.com
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