Kenneth Derham

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ken Derham; a devoted husband and father who passed away quietly at the age of 91 with family by his side. He is predeceased by his wife of 68 years, Margaret, older brothers Leslie and Vivian, sister Olive, brother-in-law Doug, and sisters-in-law Mima, Pat, Joan and Lenore. He leaves behind his loving daughter, Gail (Klas), and brothers Dilwyn (in Wales), and David (Jill) in Parksville.

Dad was born in Tonypandy, Wales, but left home at 14 for Pembrokeshire, where he met, and at 21, married, the love of his life, Margaret.  Three years (and a daughter) later, they emigrated to Canada, and briefly stayed with family in Toronto before building their own home on a ten acre parcel north of the city. Then, some thirty years later, another move, this time to Vancouver Island, where Mum and Dad embarked on, what Dad always said, were the best years of their lives.

The above photo is my Dad. A man who loved to laugh and who truly made the best of every day. He was happiest when he was working in his garden, going for walks with Mum, baking bread, stacking firewood, or trying to master Scott Joplin on the piano...which he almost did! He was an avid reader, a formidable tennis player, and a dedicated swimmer; regularly heading off to the Qualicum College Inn at six in the morning to swim a mile. After the College pool closed, Dad devised his own ‘swim-in-place’ pool at home by attaching a rope to a belt around his waist, and then suspending the rope from an overhead branch!

But, that was my Dad; a wonderfully kind, loving man with a great sense of humour and an outlook that saw the glass half full rather than half empty. He was always ready to lend a hand, and there wasn’t a project he wouldn’t tackle, whether it was putting a steel roof on his house at 75, or installing a parquet floor at 82!

Towards the end of his life, I believe Dad’s heart returned to the valleys. Listening to Welsh Male Voice choirs always brought tears to his eyes, and I swear his accent grew stronger every year.

I told him that his passing would create a huge hole in our lives…and it has.

Our sincere thanks go to Dr. Clair Biglow, and to Dr. Robin Love and the wonderful nurses and volunteers at the Palliative Care Wing at NRGH, where Dad spent his final days. At his request, there will be no service, but donations can be made in his memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC.