William Pierce View A Story - Burlington, Ontario | Smith's Funeral Home
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This Book of Memories memorial website is designed to be a permanent tribute paying tribute to the life and memory of William Pierce. It allows family and friends a place to re-visit, interact with each other, share and enhance this tribute for future generations. We are both pleased and proud to provide the Book of Memories to the families of our community.

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Once Bill realized that nobody in the family was much of a reader, he sat us down and read The Lord of the Rings out loud. Watership Down followed. He bought me my first copy of The Chronicles of Narnia. When I (shamefully) didn’t understand a Star Wars reference, he rented the movies (in the proper order!) over a matter of weeks. Almost every piece of work that inspired me as a kid and teenager was recommended by Bill. Despite his love for realism and nonfiction, he never asked me to stop speculating. Despite his seriousness, he immersed himself in the craziness of this family. The last conversation I had with him was interspersed with "cheeps" as we pretended to be birds in the hospital room.

 

More than anything, Bill taught me to follow my dreams. He was the kind of person who practised what he preached. Just a year ago he rode his bicycle from Mexico to Canada, following spring on the adventure of a lifetime. Bill genuinely liked talking to people and hearing their stories. He was the rare sort who not only listened, but heard.

 

Yesterday I obtained my MFA in Creative Writing, from a program to which Bill pushed me to apply. Today I write this story inspired by Bill’s brilliance and kindness. Tomorrow, I follow my dreams the way Bill followed spring north.

 

We’ve heard you, Bill. Your story will continue.

 

Posted by Raluca Balasa
Saturday April 28, 2018 at 7:22 pm
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