William "Bill" Kyle

When you are 92, nothing happens ‘suddenly’. The passing of our father came quickly for a man who prided himself on never getting sick and for being active right to the very end. He would look around the hospital and remark that it was full of old, sick people...it was "no place for him."

In late October our father was diagnosed with a brain tumour; a ticking time bomb whose fuse was lit long before we discovered it if not for the slurred speech and loss of memory. It’s just one of those things you ignore and chalk up to ‘getting old’. That’s the thing about life; It is fragile, precious and unpredictable and each day is a gift, not a given right. He lived a healthy, active life...he was a gardener in a landscape of imperfection.

'Bill' passed away on February 21, 2018, surrounded by his family and with the dignity you would come to expect from him.

He lived his life in service to his customers and community having spent the better part of his career with Seagram's and later Alberta Distiller's, having retired twice, but never losing his zest for work or to stay active in the city where he was born and raised. Most weekends would find him in 'service to others' as the city's bartender in a by-gone era of swanky parties and grand openings.

In his later years, he became actively involved with his beloved Tiger-Cats where he has held season tickets for over 65 years and it is there that he remained an alumnus having played with the old Wild Cat's and Tigers. On the sports field, dad was a legend in his own mind.

Dad was predeceased by his wife Connie whom he was married to for 64 years and he leaves behind his daughter Andrea (Peter), son Scott (Sharon) and four grandchildren and three great grandchildren and sister Anne Cassells (Don).

It’s a strange thing to realize and accept your own mortality after the death of a parent - for a son at the loss of a father or a daughter at the loss of her mother. We've stopped worrying so much about the small, meaningless stresses in life and try to remember that we all have the same fate after all, so do what you can to make your time feel worthy and great, minus the drama. There is nothing we can do about it and all we wish for now is that we could have just one more Birthday or Christmas with our father.

Lastly, we’d like to thank the wonderful and caring staff at St. Peter’s Hospital who made dad’s last days comfortable. You should be very proud of your staff of doctors, nurses and volunteers who make such difficult times a little easier through your kindness and compassion. You went beyond what anyone could ever ask. Our family thanks you and will keep your wonderful staff in our hearts and always in our prayers. In typical fashion, dad did not want a drawn out affair unless he was catering it so please join us for a celebration of a truly colourful life at MARKEY-DERMODY FUNERAL HOME, 1774 King Street East (at Kenilworth) on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 from 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. A private family interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Peter’s Hospital would be sincerely appreciated.