Dad ended his battle with cancer on Wednesday March 30th, 2011. Surrounded by friends and loved ones.
William (Bill) Duncan Gillies
The following arrangements have been made:
Visitation:
Date: Sunday April 3rd
Time: 2 – 4 pm & 7 – 9 pm
Location: Hetherington & Deans Funeral Chapel
Address: 5176 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 4E3
Phone: 905.354.5614
Funeral Service:
Date: Monday April 4th
Time: 11:00 am
Location: Hetherington & Deans Funeral Chapel
Address: 5176 Victoria Avenue, Niagara Falls, ON L2E 4E3
Phone: 905.354.5614
Map:
Burial:
Date: Monday April 4th
Time: Immediately following the Funeral Service
Location: Fairview Cemetery
Address: Stanley Ave & Morrisnon St., Niagara Falls, ON L2E 2E8
Map:
Reception:
Date: Monday April 4th
Time: Immediately following Burial
Location: St. Andrew’s United Church, Auditorium
Address: 5645 Morrison St., Niagara Falls, ON L2E 2E8
Phone: 905.356.1624
Map:
St. Andrew’s United Church
Please feel free to leave us a message here or to sign the guest book at
Hetherington & Deans Funeral Chapel
Silkpurseproductions's Blog 
Michelle,
I’m so sorry about your dad, I just saw your post on facebook. I will be thinking of you at this time as you and your family go through this emotionally and physically exhausting next little while. So sorry. Xoxo.
Thank you Sandra. I appreciate thoughts and hope to get a hug from you soon.
M
Michelle,
I’m so terribly sorry about the loss of your Dad. He looked like a very wonderful man. It’s such a sense of emptiness. After I lost my Dad last year, I knew my world would be a very different place.
But, I’m thankful for all the fabulous times I did have with him and the innate sense of knowing he is always with me and always will be.
If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to call —my prayers are with you and your family.
Love, Your friend,
Kristi S.
Thank you Kristi, I remember when you lost your Dad. We are both very fortunate that we have those fabulous times to remember them by.
We still have to organize our coffee date.
I look forward to that.
M
Hi Michelle
I was very sorry to hear about your Dad. We all know that someday this time will arrive but when it does it still hits hard. These men play such an important role in our lives. I love how you posted 3 pictures of your Dad. It appears that he lived a full life. My thoughts are with you as you move through the process of laying him to rest. Your Toastmaster friend, Marion West.
Thank you for your kind words Marion. “These men”, how true! It is true, Dad lived a full life, and made sure he enjoyed every minute he could. I shall try to follow his example.
Thanks,
M
I’m so sorry to hear about your dad Michelle. Please accept my most sincere condolences.
Thank you Marty. I appreciate your note.
M
Michelle, I’m so sorry to hear about your dad, I didn’t know him but I know you and I’m sure he was a kind, generous, and caring person as you are. I’m very glad to hear that you spend the last few days with him. His memories will be in your heart forever. You will think of him and smile and cry at the same time. Big hugs to you at this time.
Love Line
Line,
Thanks for your kind words and hugs (I shall collect them personally).
Have a great time at your big celebration this week.
You deserve it.
M
Life flies so fast. It’s a reminder to us all to live each day to the fullest. To say the things we want remembered today and do the little things that count so much when our loved ones are gone. Life is precious and death comes too quickly to us all.
My sincere condolences to you and your family. I hope your special memories of him will always be with you all.
Debbie,
What a beautiful sentiment. Thank you so much.
I definitely wouldn’t have made it through this week if not for you. You have been going above and beyond to help me keep things on track.
Please know that I appreciate it beyond measure.
M
My deepest condolences Michelle!
100 years … What an awesome achievement in itself!
I cannot help but think on the thousands of lives your Dad must have touched… and all life’s good and not-so-good that he survived!
…And what a privilege to have passed on surrounded by loved ones… !
Rodger,
I can’t believe I did this. There is something for being said about being fully functional when you are doing something that is important to you.
My Dad was not 100, he was in his 90th year and would have actually turned 90 on Dec. 15th of this year.
Thanks for mentioning it so I could correct it.
90 years…! My comment stands Michelle … xo
Dear Michelle, We are very sad to hear about your Dad – he was a wonderful man. A true gentleman. I used to enjoy our conversations with him when we would visit our grandmother. I know you will miss him and we know that your parents are probably up there dancing!!!!
Oh, Audrey, how true! You know how much he loved to dance. Did you know he actually won a jitterbug contest on his 85 birthday? He was missing that lately, but there is nothing to hold him back now.
Thanks Audrey.
Dear Michelle
Thank you for sharing the news of your father’s passing. I am so glad that you were able to be with him right until he passed away. You will always miss him, but may you be comforted by all the good memories of happy times you shared together. And may God give you His “peace that passes understanding” and comfort you with a special sense of His loving presence with you.l
My Dear Ruth,
You have been on my mind a lot lately. Dad spent some time down in Niagara On The Lake Hospital before he went into the Hospice. All the time we spent there with Ida came flooding back. I still miss her, as I am sure you do too.
You also remembered my birthday, thank you so much for the lovely card. It was a nice surprise.
As you received this notice that means I have your email address somewhere and I will do a proper catch up with you when things have settled down.
Much love always Ruth,
M
Hi Michelle, sorry for your loss. try to remember the happy times you had with your dad. Cry, Love and Remember – you are his legacy – so fuel the future world with wisdom and happiness. Thinking of you and your family…
Thank you Nance,
There are lots of happy times to remember. I am blessed with that. Haven’t partaken of the crying yet but I know it will come.
I hope you and Ralph are having a wonderful trip.
M
Michelle,
My deepest condolences to you and your family. Losing a parent is so very difficult; I am sending all of you strength.
I remember when my Mom died, and then my Dad years later, the finality of it … and yet, I feel them every day, they are with me all the time.
May the belief that your Dad is with you, and guiding you, give you strength in the coming weeks and months.
Thank you Beatrice.I appreciate you sending me strength. It is definitely needed this week. I too lost my Mom many years ago. I still miss her every day, but find little things that let me know she is still around. I’m sure that will happen with Dad, in time as well.
Thanks again,
M
Michelle,
As you know, I lost my mom almost a year ago. Even when you expect it, nothing is quite like actually going through it.
What I learned was…
1) cry your heart out
2) Get as many hugs as offered
3) The days following.. the visitation and the funeral, really do help with the grieving
4) Friends who listen (i’m one!!!) are available and if you need, you should take advantage.
You are one amazing gal, I can only imagine from which amazing gene pool you come from. Please accept my deepest and sincerest sympathies.
Laurinda(who is also an amazing woman),
I shall follow your list faithfully. It looks like a good plan.
Thank you so much for helping me out the other night with this blog. As always, you were spot on, it is very comforting and therapeutic.
Gratitude, My Friend (probably my biggest fan).
M
Michelle,
Very sorry to hear this news. I hope you are ok.
I very much like the two black & white photos of him.
My thoughts are with you.
Dave
Dave,
Thank you so much for letting me share that beautiful day with you while shooting the Maple Syrup Festival. It was exactly what I needed along with our conversation about my Dad. It allowed me to spend the next couple of days, his last days, with him full of love, joy and peace.
I had to laugh about your comments on the photos. Of course you love those black & whites! Your amazing eye as a photographer would appreciate them. Remind me to show you a couple of others you may appreciate.
Thanks again Dave.
M
Hi Michelle,
My condolences during this somber time in your life.