William Bill Pelly

William Simon Pelly Jr “Bill”  was born November 22, 1939 at Cumberland House Saskatchewan and later moved to The Pas and OCN.  He is predeceased by parents Simon and Katie Pelly; In laws  Alec and Rachel Bignell; siblings Miles Pelly (Annie); Albert Pelly, Flora Crane (Malcolm), Priscilla Cook (Billy), Augusta Pelly, Christina Pelly; brothers and sisters in law Dennis Bignell, Oliver Bignell, Moses Bignell, Joseph Bignell, Jonah Bignell, Isabel Young (Jonah), Marie Bignell, Mary Pacey, Esther Beardy and Tommy Ballantyne; nephews and nieces Nicholas Crane; Simon Crane, Samuel Crane, Ruth Cook, Daniel Crane, Vernon Ballantyne, David Cook, Vicky Young Wendy Young.

William “Bill” is survived by his wife of 55 years Shannon; children  daughter Katie and her children Troy, Angel, Nicole, Preston and Ashley; son Victor and his children Jordan, Dominic, Desirae, Kyla, Brayden, Rico, Nico, Matteo, Leannah; son Keith and his children Echo, River and Keith Jr. and his youngest daughter Holly (Johnny); adopted children Leona Paul and Family, Lester Bignell (Flora), Wendy and Heidi Bignell, Mia Bignell and Dawn Bignell; chapans  Mason, Carson, Andrew, Caleb, Zion, Carter and Makar; Godchildren Diane Cowley, Jordan Cook, Caleb Pelly and Danielle “Chich” Ballantyne. Bill is also survived by his youngest sister Louise Ballantyne; sisters in law  Mabel Bignell, Roma Bignell, Flora Bignell, Pauline Bignell, Elsie Pelly; special nephew Leon Pelly and Family; brother in law Alan Bignell; niece and nephew Monica Ducharme and Reggie Constant.

Uncle Bill was raised by Grampa Simon on the trapline when he was a younger boy after his mom was gone to be in the hospital with tuberculosis.   He grew up there with his little sister Louise and learned valuable skills of trapping, hunting and hard work ethic only Grampa could show them.  He loved the land and knew how to survive out there.  They were taught early in life to protect themselves while their older brothers (Miles and Champion) went out to hunt and trap with Grampa.  Grampa was gone long periods of time and there Bill grew his love for dogs, alongside his little sister Louise.  Their sled dogs protected them and fondly they remembered that later on in life.

Bill moved to The Pas, MB in the late 60’s and there he met Shannon Bignell. They were married at the church of Messiah in 1970.  Bill and Shannon started their new life out in Umpherville and later moved their family to the OCN.  Bill and Shannon were full of love and opened their home to their loved ones who needed a place to stay.  It was in their nature to show compassion to everyone.

Grampa showed Bill many skills that would sustain him later in life where he would use them to take care of his own family, which were paddling, racing dogs, building sleighs for skidoos, making snowshoes, making dog harnesses for racers, making paddles for his loved ones and paddling with friends.  He was taught to work hard in construction (construction of the hospital, Bignell bridge, Jenpeg Hydro Dam and line cutting up in Northern MB).

In his healthier years, Bill loved to long distance paddle and taught many skills passed down from Grampa to his children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren.  He loved to watch them paddle and was proud he taught them what he knew.  He loved sports and advocated for the young kids In Umpherville to receive hockey equipment and hockey jerseys and socks and decided he would be their coach as well.  He named his hockey team Umpherville Northstars.

He trapped in his married life across Landry Lake with his children and Shannon .  There he made memories with them.  He was proud of his baby Holly leaving the OCN to go live in the city and worked to support herself.

Uncle Bill was knowledgeable in traditional medicines and their uses and helped his loved ones where Western Doctors were not able to help.  He knew the land and water and all the uses it can provide to help a person. 

When Bill’s health began to decline, he moved to the McGillivary Care Home in 2022 where he received 24 hour care.  There he enjoyed puzzling; scratch tickets, telling stories, visiting his new friends Herman, Joe and Chu-Arr.  And his most favorite was his visits with his grandchildren and chapans. Bill loved family and made sure his children were connected to all of their family and relations. 

Bill peacefully passed onto the spirit world surrounded by his children, grandchildren and family. Tuesday February 4, 2025 at the St. Anthony’s Hospital in The Pas, Manitoba, at the age of 85 years.

If we forgot anyone it was not intentional.

Wake Service

Sunday, February 9, 2025

Church Of The Messiah

Opaskwayak Cree Nation, MB

Funeral Service

Monday, February 10, 2025 

1:00 p.m.

Church Of The Messiah

Opaskwayak Cree Nation, MB

Presiders: Ven. Lydia Constant

Deacon Allan Bignell Jr.

Music Ministry: Russell Cook

Memorial Singers, Darren Bignell and Carl Crane.

Interment

Monday, February 10, 2025

St. Michael and All

Angels Cemetery

Opaskwayak Cree Nation, MB

Pallbearers

Carl Young, Earl Crane,

Calvin Pelly, Abel Crane,

Clayton Bignell, Keith Pelly, Victor Pelly, Leon Paul,

Neil Bignell, Lenny Martin.

Honorary Pallbearers

Leon Pelly, Joe Fiddler, Jim Buck, Adam Buck, Keith Goulet, Norman Budd, Sammy Constant, Silas Constant, Fiddler Families and Thomas Families in Cumberland House.