Friday, December 16, 2022
Our family would regularly visit Uncle Bill, Auntie Chris and my cousins Dianne and Johnny in my childhood. As I got older with the passing of my father those visits became memories. About 27 years ago, when visiting Grand Beach, I decided to drop by their cottage on the spur of the moment. Bill & Chris were not at their cottage but by chance we found that their neighbour’s property was for sale. Later that summer we took possession of that cottage and became neighbours. Our son Joseph was born the next year and as he grew up he would regularly go next door to see what Auntie Chris had baked. Uncle Bill shared many stories of his life particularly about my father. I recall that he was particularly proud of a time when the family were newcomers to Canada. He and my dad had gone to a lumber camp to earn extra money for the family. According to Bill, he and my father cut more cords of wood than anyone else there. Uncle Bill was also very proud of his time designing leather clothing. He still had design ideas long after he stopped working which he shared at the cottage. He also liked to recall the time he met Bobby Hull who represented the leather goods company. My final recollection relates to Bill’s love of slot machines that evolved in retirement. I have never met anyone else who ever won as many jackpots. Memories of a lifetime. I miss speaking in Polish with Uncle Bill.
My condolences to my godmother Auntie Chris and to my cousins Dianne and John.
From Stan, Terry & Joseph Bernacki
