It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved son, William Francis Donald McDonald, on July 5, 2025 at 39 years of age, in Dartmouth, NS.

William was born on October 9th, 1985, in Truro, NS, to parents, Michelle McDonald & Frederick Bernard.

He graduated from Dartmouth High School and went to work as a Security Guard at various places around the HRM with the last place being NSCAD. He always had his days and nights mixed up so working nights was perfect for him.

Will loved spending time with his family and his online family. He was an avid online gamer and made friends from one side of the world to the other.  He was always buying the next new video game system to play online with his friends.

He is survived by his parents, Michelle McDonald, Troy Farnell and Frederick Bernard; his sister, Alexandria (Ali); brothers, Austin Bernard, Skylar Bernard and Aksel Sack; grandmother, Lorraine Bernard; Uncles, David McDonald, Frank Nevin (Ashley), Allan Bernard; Aunts, Sherri Fitzpatrick (Peter) and Trina McCarthy (Matt), his godchild, Melayna Fitzpatrick; godparents, Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Bernie Knockwood and many cousins.

He was predeceased by his brother, Joey Farnell- McDonald, his grandparents Rose Marie and Frank Nevin, William McDonald, Fred Bernard Barbara Caissie, Brian Wentzell, and his Uncles Patrick McDonald and Andy Bernard.

I would like to thank all the Nurses and Doctors in 5.1 and 6.4 in the QEII and especially the Dartmouth General Hospital ICU where he spent 16 months before his death. They gave him excellent care and loved him like a part of their family. They have said the saying “where this is a Will there is a way” is now different for them because if Will had to figure something out he would.  They had to put a lock on his seatbelt because he figured how take it off. They put on gloves to stop him from taking off his breathing machine, but he figured that out too. He wheeled himself around the ICU like he owned the place. He sat at the nursing station watching movies whenever he wanted.

Cremation has taken place under the care and direction of Ettinger Funeral Home, Shubenacadie. Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 7th, 2025, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm in Ettinger Funeral Home, 2812 Highway 2, Shubenacadie. A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Friday, August 8th, 2025, in St. Kateri's Roman Catholic Church, Indian Brook. 

Condolences, words of comfort and memories of Will may be share with the family at www.ettingerfuneralhome.com.