Obituary of Bill Potter
NOTICE TO OUR FRIENDS AND RELATIVES REGARDING POSTPONEMENT OF BILL'S MEMORIAL GATHERING
We regret to inform our friends and relatives that in light of the city venue closures due to the current Coronavirus Covid 19 pandemic, we have made the responsible decision to postpone the memorial gathering for Bill scheduled for this Sunday, March 15th. Please continue to share memories of him and seek updates on a new date on his memorial web page at www.ecofuneral.ca
Thank you for your continued support and remembrances of Bill. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause but wish to ensure that the health and safety of all of our guests is paramount, as Bill would want.
Died after battling cancer with strength and fortitude at Niagara Health System-St. Catharines Site on Friday, February 21, 2020.
Thankful for a lifetime of memories are his wife Cheryl Potter (nee Romagnoli), his brother Joe (Linda) Potter and his sister Rosemary (Tom) Moffatt. Memories of happy times with his brother-in-law Gary (Diane) Romagnoli and sisters-in-law Joanie and Marilyn Romagnoli and many nieces and nephews.
After 29 years of service to the Niagara Region Water Treatment Plant, Bill happily retired and enjoyed traveling throughout Canada and the USA for 15 years. He and Cheryl made countless friends and memories along the way in their RV travels.
Special thanks to their special friend Barbara Labatte, staff of the Walker Clinic and all caregivers for their support through his journey.
Bill lived an adventurous life filled with many unique memories that will cherished by all who knew him.
In keeping with Bill’s wishes, cremation has taken place and we invite you to celebrate his life at a forthcoming memorial gathering. The original event set for Sunday, March 15, 2020 has been postponed due to the current Coronavirus Covid 19 pandemic. Please check back frequently for details on a future event. In the meantime, we invite you to share memories, photos and stories and make donations in his name to the Walker Family Cancer Centre, via his memorial web page at www.ecofuneral.ca
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Bill's final days evoked many special moments between he and friends and loved ones. Some, so special that sharing with those who loved him seems approrpriate. Below is a conversation held with him as he was communicating via writing on a white board, due to loss of hearing and speech:
From Cheryl:
"I would like to share with you some conversations that Bill, myself and our friend Barb had on Thursday, before he died. Bill was unable to hear or speak the last 2 days so we used white boards and dry erasers to communicate.
- Cheryl: do you want me to split up your ashes so I can take you on a road trip?
- Bill: yes, that would be great.
- Cheryl: We can get take-out containers....
- Lots of laughs
- Bill: Maybe give some to Barb and anyone else that wants to take me on a road trip....
- Cheryl: We need more containers!
- Barb: Maybe we can use small containers with lids like mouthwash containers...
- More laughs
- Nurse comes in and we tell her our ideas. More Laughs...
- She suggests we use urine sample bottles and proceeds to give us one. (plenty more where they come from!)
- More Laughs
- Bill: to Barb, I am sad because I won't be able to walk you down the aisle if you ever decide to get married.
- Cheryl: Don't think you have to worry she probably wouldn't get married now.
- Barb: I can keep a small container and if it ever happens you will walk down the aisle with me.
- Some tears and hugs
- Bill: I want to go for a ride on Mike's motorcycle.
- Cheryl: OK, I'll tell him...
- Barb leaves and this is some of Bill and My conversation:
- Cheryl: Are you OK with dying?
- Bill: Don't want to live like this.
- Cheryl: I don't want you to live like this either.
- It's OK if you die.
- I will be sad and miss you. We had a good run through the years. I love you ..
- Lots of tears, hugs and kisses
- Bill: Are you tired?
- Cheryl: Yes but do you want me to stay tonight?
- Bill: No I'll be OK. Not going to die tonight.
- I go home to try and sleep and got the dreaded phone call at 3 am., and by 3.10 he slipped away peacefully.
- I just want you all to know that we were both at peace with him dying and that we left nothing unsaid. One never knows where our journeys will take us and we were lucky enough to have many.
- Love You, Bill.
Cheryl.
Uniquely entrusted to eco Cremation & Burial Services Inc.
Life Celebrations. Done Differently
