William Harris

Dearest Wanda,

We are deeply saddened to hear the news about the death of Bill and our thoughts are with you Wanda, Paul, Bunny, Greg, James and Lori and to all who loved Bill during this difficult time of loss. Please accept our most sincere condolences and may the Good Lord provide you all the strength needed at this time.

We both feel very honoured to have had the chance to get to know and love Bill. We could not have asked for better neighbours and friends. Bill will be very sadly missed, and we feel so Blessed to have had him in our lives. We will cherish the memories of Bill and know they will bring many a laugh and smile to our faces for years to come. Even Jessica will miss getting the attention Bill lavished on her and the dog biscuits too!!

Trevor’s Mom, Ivy Dayes from Jamaica sends you and family her heartfelt sympathy and prayers of comfort. She wants you to know that she will remember Bill with fondest thoughts, and will cherish the wonderful memories and kindness shown to her during her visit here. Also, our niece Leigh Somers from Calgary would like to extend her deepest and most sincere condolences, and let you know that you are in her thoughts, and that she will always hold close to her heart the joyful times spent with the two of you.

We will be keeping in touch with you very often Wanda, and look forward to spending time with you.

May peace be yours in time, knowing that he is in in God’s care now, and that ALL our lives are enriched by the time we got to spend with BILL!

Holding you in our thoughts and prayers!

Hugs and much Love from Louann and Trevor xoxo

Dear Aunt Wanda, Paul and family:
I want to express my sadness at the loss of your dear one, known to me as ‘Uncle Bill.’ I thank God for the life of a great uncle, and as he was with me I am sure he was with you. I will always think of Bill as a positive, encouraging and delightful guy. Even in trials and pain, even in the worst of times, I never saw him without a glint in his eye that reflects the glory of God. We have been given life, and we are daily loaded with benefits, as the Scriptures say. Bill has been a reflection of God+óGé¼Gäós goodness, God+óGé¼Gäós grace, and celebration of the life God has given to man. I will miss the sparkle he always brought to every gathering, and every conversation. As I write this I have tears, and I could not help but think of Bill as I skated for 25 minutes today around a frozen lake five minutes walk from our Kyiv flat. Linda and I tried to bring Christmas joy to a young child with a hockey stick and puck. Today, January 7, the day of the memorial service for Bill, is the Ukrainian Christmas. We put an oversized Canadian sweater on this zealous beginner (maybe 3 years old) and he and I passed the puck back and forth. Linda took pictures. As they were leaving, Olga, his young Mom, asked us for copies of the pictures. Well, this is Bill. First of all, I would never be on skates if it were not for my dad, who played with Bill and who passed on to me the love of the game. Bill was the guy in the corners, who came up with the puck. He did the hard work, and fed a pass to dad in front of the net. Second, as Linda and I tried to do, Bill did continually whenever I was in his presence. He tried to bring joy and a smile to those before him. He gave of himself to others. An incredible guy. I never had a visit, from the earliest years through to this past October – never a visit where I did not leave with a sense that Bill wanted to give attention to little ol+óGé¼Gäó me, and delight in something he found in my life. We know that one day there will be the elimination of all sorrow and tears, because of the finished work of Christ on the Cross. We know that believers in Christ do have grief over real loss, but they grieve in a different way. There is real hope that carries, upholds and moderates the grief – keeping it in the right balance and expressed in right channels. Christ renews His people, and they become youthful, and increase in youthfulness. Isn+óGé¼Gäót it appropriate that over here in Ukraine, the spirit of Bill lives. It is Christmas here, and this one child no doubt had a real highlight today, passing a puck to a hockey player, and wearing a Canadian sweater. This is Bill. Bringing youthfulness, joy, and a positive view to situations that would undo many people. I am sure he struggled and had times of discouragement, for man is born unto trouble as surely as sparks fly upwards, as the Scripture says. But I thank God for the gift of Bill to me. I pray that God comforts his wonderful life-partner, Wanda, and Paul their only-begotten, as well as Paul+óGé¼Gäós family. In the sorrow of loss, may they see the goodness of God which upholds the contrite, and quickens the weak. May Wanda, Paul, and close family members – my dad, Bill+óGé¼Gäós brother, and many who cherished friendship with Bill – grieve for the earthly loss and then be moved to gratitude for Bill+óGé¼Gäós Maker, who has given us many many good gifts through +óGé¼-£uncle Bill.+óGé¼Gäó
With sincerely condolences and prayer for true comfort,
Ron (and Linda) Harris
Kyiv Ukraine.
January 7, 2008
Ukraine Christmas