Obituary of Wayne Billard

It is with extreme sadness we announce the peaceful passing of Arthur “Wayne” Billard on Friday, March 8, 2024, at the Northside Guest Home, North Sydney, where he had resided for the past eight years. Born in Glace Bay on September 25, 1950, he was the son of the late Arthur “Art” and Alexis “Lexie” (Tredwell) Billard. Wayne was a Boilermaker by trade and a member of Local 73. He worked at many job sites and places in his career until a serious back injury disabled him and forced him into early retirement. A few years after that, he was diagnosed with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy – CIDP, which caused him constant pain although he rarely complained and accepted it as part of His Master Plan. He was also a lobster fisherman at heart, and loved the time he spent fishing with his father at a young age and his two brothers later. Wayne was a gentle, loving man who helped others at every opportunity. He had two foster children through Foster Parents Plan, sponsored several children under the Smile Program to repair cleft palette and lip, supported the Leprosy Foundation, repaired and purchased headstones for people he knew in Greenwood Cemetery, supported a lady and her child who was a waitress at a restaurant and developed cancer, bought bicycles for children on grading day and donated them to the Salvation Army. He also helped people who were broke down in their cars with repairs and tires, bought winter coats for homeless and even fed the seagulls behind Walmart loaves of bread he bought because “they had to eat too”. He donated to every fundraising event he heard of to help people with medical issues. Wayne is survived by his daughters, Jennifer and Blayr, two grandchildren, Jake and Jenna Wambolt, and his former wife, Dawn. Also surviving are his brothers; Ernie (Linda), Sheldon (Lydia); sisters, Linda Burke and Wendy (Francis ) Venedam, who has been his caregiver for over ten years; sister-in-law, Deborah and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and a great, great niece and nephew. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by a younger sister, Shannon; brother, Dale Billard; and brother-in-law, Gary Burke. In keeping with Wayne’s wishes, cremation has taken place. There will be no funeral service and a private burial will take place at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to T.J. Tracey Cremation and Burial Specialists, 6 Churchill Drive, Sydney, NS, 902-539-7175. Our sincere thanks to all of the wonderful staff at Northside Guest Home who loved and cared for him, especially Tara, Nicky, Jacqueline, Paula, Michelle and all CCA’s of Theresa Terrace and Fowler Hall who became his family, as well as Mary, who was his caregiver before he went to the guest home. In his memory, please do a good deed, donate to a food bank, help the homeless or someone in need as he would have done. I will miss you my sweet brother, but your suffering is finally over. Sincere thanks to T.J. Tracey for their capable direction of the funeral and for making this difficult task a little easier to bear. Words of condolence may be made to the family by visiting www.tjtracey.com.