April Williams-Crabbe: August 8, 1977 - September 15, 2009
I first met April the same place I met most of the people I am now close to - the Yahoo voice trivia rooms, back in 2003 in what has since become known as "Room 101". I was just recently separated, heading towards divorce, living on my own for the first time (since college dorm rooms don't count) and wandered into the room accidentally, following some friends from another chat room (which will remain nameless). As I spent more and more time in the room, I met a lot of people, both in the US and outside. April was one I hit it off with rather quickly. We shared similar tastes in music, somewhat similar personalities, and just seemed to click. We spent many hours talking online, in e-mail and on the phone over the years.
When things got ugly in "Room 101" and that filtered over to other rooms and their boards, she was the first to jump to my aid, even when I would decide the argument wasn't worth it and wouldn't give the people attempting to get to me the time of day. I'll never forget an e-mail she sent to me one day that she'd posted to another trivia group's board in my defense after I'd taken the room owners to task for being racist bigots. She tore them a new one, in her own style, while also telling them I was right and that if she was being lumped into the same group as me, having come from a different room, that she was proud to be considered to be in the same circle. I re-read that e-mail this morning, as I did numerous other messages she'd sent me over the years (G-Mail is a wonderful thing, not having to empty your inbox, since I have 5 years of e-mails from April I can always go back and read again).
When I jumped ship from "Room 101" and spun off to form my own room, she was right there with me, keeping the room open, getting on the microphone to entertain people, participating in the themed games I'd run (and running a few of her own), giving me moral support and just being a good friend. She was more to me than just a friend. She truly became family to me, even though we'd never met in person. She was a close and trusted friend, a member of my chosen family, a confidant, and a kindred spirit.
When my room went under, it was April who introduced me to Facebook. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but, I stayed because I'd been invited by someone I was close to and used it as yet another way to keep in touch with her and the rest of the friends I'd made over the years.
The last time I'd spoken to April was about a week or so before her death. We'd talked about her having just moved into an apartment on her own, her job as a DJ at a local bar, and how her life was turning around after a stretch of it being not so good. She was happy, and that made me smile knowing she was finally on her way to what she truly wanted.
I'm posting the below information directly from April's Facebook page:
A public MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held in honour of April on:
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH AT 1:00PM
@ 4820 45TH STREET RED DEER AB
All are welcome
Following the service a gathering is planned beginning at 7pm at John's house.... see the previously posted invite copied below:
April will be honored by her family and friends on friday @ 64 fern glade cres. Sylvan lake , Alberta. all that new and loved April are welcome to join us as we celebrate her life with us! we will begin around 7 PM
April's parents have asked that any one who is unable to attend the memorial would make a Donation in April's name to St.John's Ambulance or to the charity of your choice (as we all know that April would be happy for any charity to benefit).
Also, for those that are not able to make it to the memorial - we are putting together a Memory book for Aprils parents...Read More and brother. If you would like to share your favourite memory of April you can email it to me at dgllsp@telusplanet.net and I will print it off and make SURE it is included. For those that can make it to the memorial, we will have pens and paper and would love if you would like to share your memories there too. It is important for April's family that everyone have a chance to contribute if they would like.
The song playing on this page is from the band Thunder and is called "Castles in the Sand". It was a song she'd told me she really liked, and had felt it described her life at one time. It sounded, in our last conversation, as though that was starting to turn around.
Words truly cannot express what I feel, the loss, the pain, the emptiness or anguish. Everyone who knew her has lost someone dear, someone irreplacable, in this era of "disposable people". People don't think you can form relationships and get close to someone on the Internet, never meeting. They're wrong. When someone is as good, as open, as friendly, as outgoing as April was, it's hard to not form a bond and get close. It takes a lot to bring me to tears. I haven't broken down and cried in a long, long time, before last night and today. My life was made better by knowing her, and seems a bit darker now that she's gone. I'll miss her.
From "The Poetic Edda", the Hávámál:
76
Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well
121
Cherish those near you, never be
The first to break with a friend:
Care eats him who can no longer
Open his heart to another.
April's Facebook Page
Remembering April Facebook Group
WILLIAMS Red Deer Advocate Red Deer, Alberta
WILLIAMS 1977 - 2009 It is with saddened hearts that we announce the sudden passing of April Dawn Williams beloved daughter, of Murray and Doreen Williams, sister, of John Williams, of Red Deer, Alberta on Tuesday September 15th, 2009, at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, at the age of 32 years. April was born on August 8th, 1977 at Melfort, Saskatchewan. She grew up on a farm near Lac Vert, Saskatchewan and took her schooling in Nacam, Saskatchewan. April went on to further her education at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta/ Saskatchewan. April moved to Red Deer in the year 2000, for the last 2 years she had been working as a volunteer coordinator for the St. John's Ambulance. She had an infectious laugh, and will be cherished in our memories for her love of life, her passion for music, and motorcycles, her incredible sense of humor, her ability to lead, and was always giving of herself. April leaves to mourn her loss, her parents, Murray and Doreen Williams of Calgary, Alberta, her brother, John Williams of Sylvan Lake, Alberta, as well as many loving family members, and friends. An honoring of the life of April will be held at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820 - 45 Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Friday September 18th, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Cremation entrusted to the Central Alberta Crematorium, Red Deer. Donations in April's memory may be made directly to St. John's Ambulance, 6519 - 67 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, T4P 1A3. Condolences may be forwarded to the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com Service and Cremation Providers: EVENTIDE FUNERAL CHAPELS 4820 - 45th Street, Red Deer. Phone (403) 347-2222.
When things got ugly in "Room 101" and that filtered over to other rooms and their boards, she was the first to jump to my aid, even when I would decide the argument wasn't worth it and wouldn't give the people attempting to get to me the time of day. I'll never forget an e-mail she sent to me one day that she'd posted to another trivia group's board in my defense after I'd taken the room owners to task for being racist bigots. She tore them a new one, in her own style, while also telling them I was right and that if she was being lumped into the same group as me, having come from a different room, that she was proud to be considered to be in the same circle. I re-read that e-mail this morning, as I did numerous other messages she'd sent me over the years (G-Mail is a wonderful thing, not having to empty your inbox, since I have 5 years of e-mails from April I can always go back and read again).
When I jumped ship from "Room 101" and spun off to form my own room, she was right there with me, keeping the room open, getting on the microphone to entertain people, participating in the themed games I'd run (and running a few of her own), giving me moral support and just being a good friend. She was more to me than just a friend. She truly became family to me, even though we'd never met in person. She was a close and trusted friend, a member of my chosen family, a confidant, and a kindred spirit.
When my room went under, it was April who introduced me to Facebook. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first, but, I stayed because I'd been invited by someone I was close to and used it as yet another way to keep in touch with her and the rest of the friends I'd made over the years.
The last time I'd spoken to April was about a week or so before her death. We'd talked about her having just moved into an apartment on her own, her job as a DJ at a local bar, and how her life was turning around after a stretch of it being not so good. She was happy, and that made me smile knowing she was finally on her way to what she truly wanted.
I'm posting the below information directly from April's Facebook page:
A public MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held in honour of April on:
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 18TH AT 1:00PM
@ 4820 45TH STREET RED DEER AB
All are welcome
Following the service a gathering is planned beginning at 7pm at John's house.... see the previously posted invite copied below:
April will be honored by her family and friends on friday @ 64 fern glade cres. Sylvan lake , Alberta. all that new and loved April are welcome to join us as we celebrate her life with us! we will begin around 7 PM
April's parents have asked that any one who is unable to attend the memorial would make a Donation in April's name to St.John's Ambulance or to the charity of your choice (as we all know that April would be happy for any charity to benefit).
Also, for those that are not able to make it to the memorial - we are putting together a Memory book for Aprils parents...
The song playing on this page is from the band Thunder and is called "Castles in the Sand". It was a song she'd told me she really liked, and had felt it described her life at one time. It sounded, in our last conversation, as though that was starting to turn around.
Words truly cannot express what I feel, the loss, the pain, the emptiness or anguish. Everyone who knew her has lost someone dear, someone irreplacable, in this era of "disposable people". People don't think you can form relationships and get close to someone on the Internet, never meeting. They're wrong. When someone is as good, as open, as friendly, as outgoing as April was, it's hard to not form a bond and get close. It takes a lot to bring me to tears. I haven't broken down and cried in a long, long time, before last night and today. My life was made better by knowing her, and seems a bit darker now that she's gone. I'll miss her.
From "The Poetic Edda", the Hávámál:
76
Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well
121
Cherish those near you, never be
The first to break with a friend:
Care eats him who can no longer
Open his heart to another.
April's Facebook Page
Remembering April Facebook Group
WILLIAMS Red Deer Advocate Red Deer, Alberta
WILLIAMS 1977 - 2009 It is with saddened hearts that we announce the sudden passing of April Dawn Williams beloved daughter, of Murray and Doreen Williams, sister, of John Williams, of Red Deer, Alberta on Tuesday September 15th, 2009, at the Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre, at the age of 32 years. April was born on August 8th, 1977 at Melfort, Saskatchewan. She grew up on a farm near Lac Vert, Saskatchewan and took her schooling in Nacam, Saskatchewan. April went on to further her education at Lakeland College in Lloydminster, Alberta/ Saskatchewan. April moved to Red Deer in the year 2000, for the last 2 years she had been working as a volunteer coordinator for the St. John's Ambulance. She had an infectious laugh, and will be cherished in our memories for her love of life, her passion for music, and motorcycles, her incredible sense of humor, her ability to lead, and was always giving of herself. April leaves to mourn her loss, her parents, Murray and Doreen Williams of Calgary, Alberta, her brother, John Williams of Sylvan Lake, Alberta, as well as many loving family members, and friends. An honoring of the life of April will be held at Eventide Funeral Chapel, 4820 - 45 Street, Red Deer, Alberta on Friday September 18th, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. Cremation entrusted to the Central Alberta Crematorium, Red Deer. Donations in April's memory may be made directly to St. John's Ambulance, 6519 - 67 Street, Red Deer, Alberta, T4P 1A3. Condolences may be forwarded to the family at www.eventidefuneralchapels.com Service and Cremation Providers: EVENTIDE FUNERAL CHAPELS 4820 - 45th Street, Red Deer. Phone (403) 347-2222.
