“Life is as good as I choose to make it, so I chose to make it a happy one where I am, and with family that is a hugging bunch - what a life!” - William Peter Onchulenko
Our much-loved family treasure, William Onchulenko “Uncle Bill”, 96, left us on March 8, 2018.
Bill and his twin sister, Pauline were born in Fort William on October 1, 1921. Bill attended St. Peter’s School and Fort William Vocational School. From 1940 to 1944 Bill worked at Canadian Car, building Hawker Hurricanes and Curtiss Helldivers. Bill then served in the army for two years. He married Stella Piziski and together they had a son, William David, who died in his second year. In 1946 they moved to Hamilton where Bill was employed as a supervisor and manager at International Harvester for 31 years. Bill was happy to retire at age 55 in 1977. After his wife, Stella (Lolly) passed away in 2004, Bill moved back to Thunder Bay. Bill missed his neighbours and friends in Hamilton but embraced his new life in Thunder Bay with family and new friends. As one of the first residents of the Walford Retirement Home, Bill was happy in his new vocation as “mayor” and greeter.
Bill was predeceased by his wife – Stella (Lolly), his son – William David, his parents – Arthur and Maria (Melnychuk), his siblings – George (Ann), Wilma Harmer (George), Dorothy Stupendick (Charles) and Pauline Reguly (John) and nephew Arthur Stupendick. Bill will be greatly missed by his many nieces and nephews and their families: John & Alice Reguly (David, Paula, Brian), Pat Reguly (Stephen, Sarah), Tom (deceased) & Gayle Reguly (Michelle, Geoffrey), Mary-Ann & Dennis Bortolon (David, Nathan), Susan & Bob Mounstephen, Margaret & Bruce Bevilacqua (Jeffrey, Philip), Rosanne & Rick Read, Gene & Cathy Onchulenko (Andrea, Alan), Lorraine & John Van Wagoner, Jim (Charlotte deceased) Harmer, Diane & Bob Painter, Ian Stupendick and Bill Stupendick. Bill will also be missed by special friends Steve and Olga Potosky.
The Celebration of Life for Uncle Bill will be held on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Corpus Christi Church celebrated by Rev. Victor DeGagné. Visitation will take place in the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
Bill’s life journey can be recognized with remembrances to Corpus Christi Church Maintenance Fund or the St. Joseph’s Manor House Adult Day Program (St. Joseph’s Care group).
