Monday, July 30, 2018
Austin had two families, his biological family and his church family. Over the years as his biological family aged and was taken by life events he became closer to his church family. My brother Gregory Wills and myself would like to thank his church family especially John Bilewicz for all the loving care his has given Austin through this stage of his end of life and to all the people who were there for him in his time of need. I will not try to name everyone for fear of leaving someone out but I’m sure you know who you are. His neighbors were also there for him bring him food and handling matters around his house when needed and I would like to thank them for their help and concern that they have given him during his life and that they have given me since. I would also like to personally thank Duane Meece for all his help and concern over the past week during this difficult time.
Every year Austin would take a trip back to Maryland, the place where we both grew up to visit and would stop at my house in Mount Dora during his trips. He would stay with his best friend since child hood, Bill Picirilli, who lived across the street from Austin when we were growing up. He also visited and stayed with friends of his parents’ children, Joyce and Ralph Hilsher, who may or may not be related but neither of us is sure since there may be a link from our grandmother’s family by way of great uncle’s children somewhere but Austin always thought of them as cousins. Joyce and Ralph maintained contact with Austin and were the first to be notified upon his death and have cared for him over the years. Throughout the years Austin was a devoted son taking his parents everywhere even on cruises when both were in wheel chairs no easy task. He has now been reunited with his loving family in heaven.
I could tell you stories about Austin over the years from the time we were young but somethings are better to be kept in the skeleton closet I think. We were always known as the stair steps, Austin being a year older then Greg and Greg being a year older than me. When Austin was transferred to Florida, where I lived, we went house hunting and he said he definitely did not want a house with a pool or sunken living room because of his parents and our bachelor uncle Gary’s (his mother’s and my father’s brother) age and health. So, what did he buy? A house with a pool and sunken living room. As time took its toil we had to handle funerals for his father, our uncle and finally his mother who he was very close to. I have packed and unpack many moves for him over the years and may not have agreed with some of his choices but respected his choice to make them.
We were never involved in each other’s day to day lives having matured into different interests and thinking but were always there for each other in times of need. We would exchange Christmas presents and greeting for birthdays. Austin was the big old teddy bear like we both collected. Always giving to others. In his last days, I believe he tried to give to me the freedom from the burden of worrying and caring for him due to my own health issues. I think he knew I would have been there no matter what. If anything, this is the only thing I regret, but his knowing I would risk my own heath to have been with him if he needed me may have been why he did not request anyone to contact me sooner. The last text I received from him in early July said he was doing better and would be going home soon. The only thing he did not say was he was going home to his savior and to be with his mother again.
Rest in peace dear cousin, someday soon I will be joining you and I can yell at you for not letting me know.
