William (Bill) Nicholson

Bill Nicholson

North Sydney

William Joseph Nicholson, age 67, left us as peacefully as he lived on Monday, August 22, 2022. Bill was surrounded by his devoted wife, Michele and loving children in a family circle of love and support for his next journey, listening to his favourite tunes. He was born on July 27, 1955 in North Sydney NS to the late Catherine (MacDonald) and Allan Nicholson.

An incredible son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, Bill lived to love. The ultimate empath and man of faith, Bill showed care and compassion to everyone he met. His mother used to say he was a man and a half and we all agreed. There wasn’t a person on earth that could say a bad word about him. He had kind and understanding eyes that put everyone at ease and a warm smile that would fill a room with positive, fun-loving energy. He loved to cut a rug with Shelly, sing in the shower and raise the vibe wherever he went. He was able to help and inspire so many as a songwriting, storytelling, First Class Power Engineer and Teacher with his Master’s in Education. A renaissance man of many hats, his career and interests took him all over and made him life-long friends wherever he went. He was always up for a song and more than a few hilarious stories around a good bonfire. He loved nature, fishing and animals. In his teen years, he spent a lot of time in the woods; he always felt so connected to the earth. He would nurse wounded animals back to tip top shape, including a legendary pet raven in his bedroom! He would never allow an animal to suffer under his care. Because of this great karma, Bill passed the same way, peacefully and surrounded by love and compassion. He is grateful to be free and he will be with us, always.

Bill is survived by his soulmate and wife of 39 years, Michele (Bénac), daughter Stefanie (Adam Fancy), sons Kyle (Angie Hosking) and Ryan (Ruth Anne Fader), as well as Papa’s little “Black-eyed Pearl” granddaughter Freya Grace Nicholson and God-children Marc Lyle and Hayley Burke. He is also survived by his sisters Sharon and Ann Nicholson and Donna D’Amour and by sisters-in-law Eileen Cassidy (Reg), Sarah Nicholson brothers-in-law, Eugene Bénac (Karen), Paul Bénac (Linda Keeping), Shawn Bénac and William "Bill" Youden. His life was filled with a long list of supportive in-laws, nieces, nephews, students, and friends of his children who called him “Da”.

In addition to his parents, Bill was predeceased by his brother Allan Nicholson, a mother-in law whom he loved dearly, Marie Bénac, and sister-in-law Diane (Bénac) Youden, brother-in-law Antonio "Tony" D'Amour. 

A visitation will be held for Bill on Friday, August 26, from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home, 107 Pleasant St. North Sydney.  A funeral mass will be held on Monday, August 29 at 11:00 am at St. Joseph Church, North Sydney with Rev. Doug MacDonald officiating.  A graveside committal will follow the mass at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Sydney.  The mass will be streamed online through the W.J. Dooley Funeral Home Facebook page.  Online condolences may be sent to the family by leaving a message on the tribute wall of the obituary page at www.wjdooley.com.

“When I die and they lay me to rest, I’m gonna go to the place that’s the best.” - Norman Greenbaum (Spirit in the Sky)

“The moon is still up there.” - Bill Nicholson
 

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