Brush, William “Bill” – Here is the story of William “Bill” Brush, age 87 who passed from this world into the next on December 11, 2022, after a long and fulfilling life. In his last days he kissed his dear wife goodbye and then, having joined in with the voices gathered in his hospital room singing praises, he became so tired that he fell asleep. That is when he slipped away.
Before I can tell you more about his long life and why all who loved him are missing him now, you need to know a few things.
First, imagine a blue-eyed, towheaded boy growing up pretty much the same as any other kid in his little town. He played in the trainyard with his brothers, delivered groceries after school, and spent his class time daydreaming about being old enough to “join the navy and see the world”!
And so it was in 1952 when the skinny boy wearing the coke-bottle glasses turned seventeen, he set out on his quest for adventure… and love! Sailor Bill enjoyed seeing new cities and working on the ship, but after a few years it didn’t seem like enough anymore, and by the time his ship sailed into Saint John Harbour, Bill had started to think his dreams of love and of a family of his own weren’t meant to be.
It was a sad sailor who walked into his friend’s wedding in the summer of 1956, but while he stood talking with the lucky groom, Bill looked up and there, only a few steps away was a pretty girl with brunette curls and when he saw her, his heart beat so fast, he thought everyone in the room could hear how hard he fell for her right then and there!
Before summer’s end, he knew Barbara was the love of his life, so he asked her to become his wife, and before the last page of 1956 fell from the calendar, she said “I do”.
Over the next few years, the sailor kept sailing while his five children were born. They are now grown: Shelly lives in Truro; Carol is married to Tom Bremner and they also live there. Ray lives in East Village while his twin, George is in Truro, and David lives with his wife Kathy on Upper Brookside Rd.
Of course, it took a long time for his children to grow up and many things happened during those years. Bill retired from the navy and moved his family into a house they bought in Truro. There he tended his vegetable garden and made repairs on the house, while Barb kept everyone fed and stitched up all the clothes the kids wore out. While everyone settled into their new lives in the new town, the kids attended their new schools and met new friends, and Bill worked while Barb kept on filling the bellies of all her family, and sometimes the guests they brought home which was happening more and more because at that time, an amazing thing was starting. One by one, the kids met and fell in love with their Redeemer. They had never known about Him before, and now they all began to tell their parents about the One Who loved their souls. Before that year ended, all seven Brushes became members in a whole new Family.
As Bill got to know his Lord, he also grew to love people – both inside and outside of God’s church, and soon the home he and Barb were tending became a place where people of all ages felt loved and accepted, and safe and fed–sometimes one at a time around the table, sometimes around many tables of folks with grey hair. Through all this, his whole family flourished. Now you’re starting to understand why his wife and children will miss having him with them every day. And not only them, but also those at church. The ones who loved his hugs, his big laugh, and his kind words (and even the funny ones), he loved them and they love him too.
And in case you think those are all the people who loved Bill, you should meet his “grands”, his kids’ kids. The grandchildren. First was Heather, now married to Wayne Broomer. They live in Oshawa. Mark Saunders lives in Toronto; Scott loves living in Fort MacMurray! Tyler lives in Wolfville with his wife Svenja Blanke-Brush; Ben lives in Halifax while Julia and her husband Matt Steele are in Dartmouth; Marshall lives in East Village, Daniel in Winnipeg, and the final two grandchildren, Hannah and Bethany live in Bible Hill. If you are counting, that makes ten.
But we are still not finished with all the people who are missing Bill’s big hugs and corny jokes, because in addition to his wife, Barb, his own children, the “Grands”, and all his friends and family in the church, there are six more people. The children of his grandchildren! He called them his “Greats”! Here they are: Elizabeth who is married to Syd Collado, her sisters Olivia and Victoria who are cousins to Ella and Liam, and their newest cousin–Elijah Blanke-Brush!
And so it happened that in his 88th year, just a couple of weeks before his and Barb’s 66th anniversary, and only hours after joining with the family gathered in his hospital room to sing praises to his Saviour, Bill fell asleep, drifting on into a new life with the only One he loved more than Barbara. Our loss is Heaven’s gain.
Thank you for joining us to celebrate his life, his love, and our love for him. The ceremony will be held on Friday, December 16 at 2 p.m. at the Truro Alliance Church, 195 Truro Heights Road with Rev. N. Scott Penner officiating.
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