Monday, May 11, 2015

How can we not talk about family when family is all we got...RIP Billy


Alfred William Carmichael (Billy) March 7, 1956 - April 27, 2015






On April 27, 2015, our family got the news that our oldest brother, Billy, passed away at home with his wife Linda and granddaughter Madison sometime in the early morning.  Within the last 5 years Linda, Madison Griffith, Crystal (Richie Sarault) and Tina Griffith (Kurt Heuff), Adriaan and Myah-Jayne came into his life, Billy and Linda had been married Oct. 29, 2011, giving him a large extended family. I know his loss will be felt by them greatly. As Crystal said in her eulogy he changed their life.

He has left behind many who are heartbroken to see him go at the young age of 59, an untimely Massive Heart Attack has left us broken. There are many that feel his loss, especially those closest to him, including:  his Mom, Thelma, his sisters Joan (George Crocker), Bea, Michelle (Brad Clark), his brothers Joey & Donald (Jen), his step-daughter from his first marriage Shauna (Peter & Grandsons Eric & Bennett), his business partners that were his extended family:  Frank Donato (Sera, Domenic & Josh) along with Dave Went (Joanne), his brother from another mother, Jonathan, Barb, Brock and Dalton Cloutier have lost the best camp buddy ever and Dave Henry has lost a hunting buddy that will not be easily replaced.  His nieces and nephews are all feeling the loss of Uncle Billy.  (Josh, Charity, David, Becky, Liam, Jacob, Josiah, Jonathan, Brooklynn, Samantha and Matthew)

The family went on before him:  his dad Bill, his first wife, Marina and his sister Peggy just 3 months earlier.

Linda, her family, and friends graciously invited us to share in paying our respects at the Daley Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, May 5 from 6-9 pm and on Wednesday, May 6 from 10-10:45 am with a Funeral following in the Chapel.

On Friday, May 8 at 9:30am his company and partners extended an invitation to share in a tree planting ceremony in remembrance of Billy.

During this ceremony Domenic Donato and myself, Michelle Carmichael Clark paid tribute to the man we loved.  I would like to share our heart with you all so that you too can pay tribute to him.

We opened with "See You Again" (non-rap version for Billy but my blog gets the version I like). Take the time to listen to it because if you knew Billy you would know this song perfectly captures him and those that lost him.


My thoughts: Billy was an East Coast success story, a Carmichael success story.  He came to Ottawa at 19 with nothing and with perseverance, hard work and commitment he made an amazing life for himself over the next 40 years.

His success made us proud and it inspired us to work hard and be committed in the lives and careers we chose. Even in his bad habits he jokingly thought he was changing the world.  He would constantly toss litter out the window.  I would be appalled and telling him to stop! To which he would reply "It's a make-work project, Michelle.  I'm keeping people employed."

He was strong-willed and stubborn which might be a family trait!

Billy was excessively generous with his family.
Even when he was a young teenager he had the kindest, giving heart.
When I was 21/2 making him about 15 I had to go to Halifax for surgery.  Now Halifax is about 351 km away from where we lived in Baddeck, yet he and my cousin Paul managed to buy me one of those giant stuffed bunnies that stood taller than me.  Where they got the money I don't know but how they got there showed me they cared... 2 teenage boys hitchhiked 351 km carrying a stuffed bunny that didn't fit in a backpack.
With not a lot of resources, he still found lots of ways to regularly show his love and commitment to his family as a teen.  I remember every Sunday our Mom would make a big Sunday Dinner and as soon as we were finished he would say "Ma, go have a nap I'll clean up" & he would do the dishes and tidy up the house.
He continued to give to his family and provide for them even as he grew in his career.

He loved his work, family and Ottawa friends so much.  I never talked to him without him telling some hunting, fishing, Harley or work story.

It was funny as we talked with each of you this week you told us your stories of you and Billy.  A lot of the stories I had heard before from Billy.  Now I have had the greatest opportunity to have the story told by both of you.  Thank you for being his family, for loving him and looking out for him for his 40 years in Ottawa.

Hard Working, Committed and Loving is what made up Billy's character.

His untimely death has left a hole in our hearts.
Our love and bond with Billy will never be broken even though our hearts are.
My regret is that I couldn't save him.  That I couldn't do more for the one who did so much for everyone else.
Now that you're gone our hearts are broken but because you were here once our hearts are filled with love.  Billy, you will always be missed and cherished.

Job 5:11 tells us "He sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety."


Followed by a prayer for peace, comfort, and protection for those Billy left behind.

Then Domenic:  Welcome everyone. Today we celebrate and honor Bills life by planting a tree in his memory. Just like when this tree grows and establishes its roots deep into the soil below us, Bill has deep roots in this company and all of our lives that all started in 1976 when he met my Father Frank. Frank and Bill both worked together at Plescia Industries doing custom steel fabrication. The first time they met was on Donald Street. Frank was the foreman on the site and was waiting for a new worker to show up. The driver told Frank his new worker was in the elevator shaft bring the torch hoses up. Frank went over to the elevator shaft and looking down from the 22nd  floor he saw this super skinny white guy with a big afro, it was Bill. In 1981 Frank decided that he was going to leave Plescia and start on his own company. Bill said to Frank that he wouldn't let him go on his own and that if Frank was going so was he, and together their journey to create Fortran started. They worked long hours and always well into the night. The days were spent fabricating and nights installing. They were always supported and well fed by their wives Sera and Marina. In 1983 they incorporated. In 1986 another key member of the future of Fortran joined, and that was Dave Went. Dave along with his wife Joanne fit in perfectly with the others. Everyone’s goal? To make Fortran what it is today. From making railings in a single home garage to now fabricating some of the largest structural steel projects in Ottawa, I think its safe to say they have succeeded their dreams. Together they shared their blood, sweat, and tears and formed an irreplaceable bond.  But they weren't just business partners, they were best friends, brothers, and most importantly family. Bill will always be part of the Fortran family. He loved this thing they created more than anything and was always proud to show the Fortran brand off.

Bill never had children but the closest thing he did had to children was Josh and me. We always looked up to him and he was like an uncle and a father to us. He was there when we were born, he was there for our many firsts, he was there to lift us up when we fell, and most importantly he was there to put us in our place.
He will always be part of our families as we grow and we will always have the greatest memories of him.

Blessing of the Tree
Creator of life and Sustainer of seed and soil, of tree and flower, you have created this world and all that lives in it. It is to You that we come in this prayer of dedication and blessing, for you are the giver of life and the sustainer of all that lives. We come to you to dedicate this tree in memory of Bill Carmichael who you continue to hold in your generous grace. We give you thanks for their lives and come to you in our tears and sorrow. May this tree reminds us of this one whom we love and who is held forever in your never-ending love. May this tree dig deep roots and grow wide branches to bear witness to your abundant love and grace made known in our brother Bill Carmichael. We ask for your blessing upon this tree and upon us who mourn, that life might dwell and bear witness to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we pray. Amen.








We had a really hard couple of weeks but this ceremony helped with the morning & grieving process.  I am so thankful for everyone at Fortran who helped to honor and remember Billy!  








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