We’ve said goodbye to our beloved Bill, after his long and valiant struggle. He had a strong spirit and a determined will to live, but his body finally tired and he is now at rest.
Bill was born to his loving parents Joseph McGuiness and Theresa Korte in Oakland, California. With his older brother Joe, he grew up amid large extended families that were very close. Summers were spent working and playing with the Korte family on his grandparents’ Napa Valley ranch and he had many youthful escapades with the McGuiness clan at the family cottage in Santa Cruz. Every occasion and holiday was marked by family celebrations.
Bill attended St. Anthony’s parish school and then entered seminary. His life-long learning was founded upon the classical studies provided at St. Joseph’s and St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Seminaries. Although he recently regretted losing touch with so many friends across the miles, he was loyal in his heart and shared fond memories. He was so happy to re-connect with friends after his 50th class re-union.
Ordained in 1961, Bill served the Archdiocese of San Francisco as parish priest and educator until 1972. He learned Spanish to better minister to the Hispanic community. He also attended the SUMORE program at Seattle University and earned a Masters Degree in Religious Education. His ministry skills shone through wherever life took him.
During a leave of absence to care for his widowed father in 1972, Bill took time to reflect on his life and it took a new direction. He received a scholarship to attend UCLA and he studied Prosthetics and Orthotics. Subsequently, he was nationally certified in both fields. He began his career at the Veteran Administration’s Hospital at Fort Miley in San Francisco.
During this time, Bill’s long-time friendship with Cath Maloney deepened into a forever kind of love. He applied for and received laicization. They were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1973. They expressed their commitment, love, and joy on a banner that day and for the next 47 years as: “For all that has been, Thanks. For all that will be, Yes.” Bill brought Cath bouquets on Thursdays to celebrate their wedding day over and over again.
They lived in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and finally Port Coquitlam, as they balanced Bill’s career opportunities and their desire to be close and supportive to their California families. Though the location of their house changed many times, their desire to nurture a stable and loving home together never wavered. Bill and Cath welcomed children as the greatest blessing, Megan in 1977 and Patrick in 1979.
They emigrated to Canada with their very young family in 1980, when the British Columbia Institute of Technology invited Bill to start a new Health Sciences program in Prosthetics and Orthotics. As Program Head, Bill taught, coordinated, and developed the program until his retirement in 2001. Having become a Canadian citizen, he took great satisfaction in educating an entire generation to care for physically challenged people across the country.
Bill cared a great deal for his community. In both Our Lady of the Assumption Parish and St. Nicholas Parish, he served as a catechist. He particularly enjoyed guiding lectors, participating in Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and hosting sacramental prep for parents. Scripture study was his passion. Bill also volunteered for the SHARE Society for many years, assisting with Christmas Hamper and Toy Drives and, in retirement, the Food Bank program and the Cold/Wet Weather program for the homeless in Port Coquitlam.
Bill was a handyman who loved to putter in his garage; an amateur mechanic who couldn’t stop rebuilding his prized 1966 blue Volvo; a proud homeowner engineering Cath’s grand schemes; an aspiring “gentleman farmer” whose backyard summer gardens were often productive; a versatile athlete until his later years, when he became a dedicated armchair sportsman. He welcomed guests into his home and came to know them as dear friends.
Bill was a family man to the core. He was the bedrock upon which our family depended - guiding, and supporting us with his gentle strength, patience and persistence. Bill made life interesting and fun, as he introduced us all to the great outdoors on vacations, to history and philosophy, and to classical music. As Megan and Patrick grew up, Bill became a softball coach, a member of musical theatre audiences , a paper-route partner, and an enthusiastic supporter of many other endeavours his children attempted. When his kids became adults, Bill shared his love of good wine and single malt scotch while enjoying thoughtful late-night conversations about life and the world. And as they each found their own loves, he welcomed Brian and Jodie into the family with open arms. His delight in his children was always visible on his face, instilling great confidence by reminding them that “I love you, but I also really like you”.
Bill became a grandfather in 2016, and found renewed joy in becoming Papa to Megan’s daughter Katie. Though no longer capable of vigorous play, he delighted in her blooming imagination and skills. He shared with Katie his love of puzzles and appreciation for vanilla (not chocolate). Grandson Charlie was born in January 2020, and meeting him became Bill’s last wish. Despite extraordinary health challenges in 2020, Bill’s tenacious spirit held on and he was able to cuddle and hold Charlie and watch him learn to crawl in July 2020.
To the end, Bill had an enduring sense of humour that helped us weather any circumstance. His courage knew no bounds. He was ethical and caring in every aspect of his life. A humble and peaceful man of abiding faith, Bill recognized each person as a child of God, his brother or sister. We are better people for having known Bill McGuiness. We will carry his heart in ours because he loved us so well. We will remember his simple words and his wisdom.
Mourning now are Catherine Maloney McGuiness; daughter Megan McGuiness, Brian Wilson and their children Katie and Charlie; son Patrick McGuiness and his fiancée Jodie Wilson. Pre-deceased by his brother Joseph, Bill will be missed by his sister-in-law Barbara and her family, and by his cousins in the McGuiness and Korte families. He will be fondly remembered by Cath’s six siblings and the extended Maloney and Wackerman families.
A Funeral Mass will be offered on Saturday, October 3 at 11:00 a.m.at St. Nicholas Parish, Langley, BC. It will be live-streamed for those who wish to join us remotely: https://youtu.be/ubsksMFc1L8 Burial will be in St. Helena, CA sometime in the future.
If you wish, memorial donations may be made to The Bill McGuiness Bursary Endowment, established by students and colleagues when Bill retired. See www.bcit.ca/foundation or a charity supporting peace and justice.