Obituary of William Thomas Rodgers

RODGERS, William “Bill” - of Enfield. It is with heavy hearts we announce Bill’s passing at age 72, at the Colchester East Hants Health Centre, on November 17th, 2024.

Son of Arthur “Tony” and Evelyn (Burton) Rodgers, Bill grew up in Northend Halifax, where he attended school and spent most of his working career. He started working summers while in High School for Hawker Siddeley, which later became Irving Shipyards, where he held a number of positions through his 44 years, retiring as a Shipfitter.

Bill & Dawn married in 1986, and built their home on Grand Lake, Enfield in 1991. He loved to be out on the lake fishing and driving his pontoon boat.

He enjoyed sharing his summers with his daughter by the lake and later with his grandchildren, who Bill loved to tease and torment with a loving heart. 

The prankster side of Bill surfaced on many occasions. He took perhaps a little too much pleasure in jumping out of hideaways to scare both the young and the old. 

Life revolved around the lake where everyone was welcome. Bill loved to entertain and host large gatherings. It became the venue for weddings, baby showers, wedding showers, dinner club and family reunions. Canada Day parties were an annual standing invite. Besides outdoor get-togethers, Bill enjoyed preparing fancy feasts over the big holidays throughout the year. It was hard to convince him to make it potluck. He wanted to do all the cooking. 

Bill shared his passion for fishing and hunting with his brother Tony, and his passion for travel with his sister Nancy, who took a number of trips with Bill and Dawn. He travelled to resorts with close friends and family and cruised in both the Caribbean and Mediterranean, maintaining long lasting relationships with people he met along the way.

Bill is survived by his wife of 38 years, Dawn Leslie; his daughter, Angela (Neil); grandchildren, Nicholas and Alyssa Townsend, Milton On.; brother, Anthony (Sally) Rodgers, Halifax; sister, Nancy Perrott, Whites Lake; as well as his siblings by marriage, Adena, Barry, Bradley, Lori Dale, their spouses; many nieces, nephews and his lifelong friend, Kenny (Shirley) Richards.

He was pre-deceased by his parents Tony & Evelyn Rodgers.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Ettinger Funeral Homes, Shubenacadie and Elmsdale. A visitation will be held from 6 – 8pm on Thursday November 21st, 2024, in Ettinger Funeral Home, 2812 Highway 2, Shubenacadie, from where a Celebration of Life will be held at 3pm on Friday, November 22^nd, 2024. Rev. Jane Magrath officiating.  

The family would like to thank the Doctors, Nurses and Health Care Professionals who took care of Bill over these many months, both at the QEII Hospital and the Colchester East Hants Health Centre. Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to ALL of the staff of the 3East Unit in Truro where he spent so much of the last five months. They treated Bill like family. Their compassion, kindness and understanding will never be forgotten.

Bill (Billy), as he is affectionately known, has without a doubt left a lasting impact in the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. 

Charitable Donations can be made to: Diabetes Canada www.diabetes.ca/donations

Tributes, words of comfort and memories of Bill may be shared with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com