With great sadness we announce the passing of our dear father on Friday December 9th in his 93rd year. Dad passed peacefully in his own home of 63 years in Etobicoke with his wife and family by his side.

Derek was born in the year of the great depression in Watford England. As a young man Dad showed great talent and a love of art and wanted to be an artist. Dad was accepted into art school upon graduating high school and was excited to begin the next chapter of his young adult life. However, the second world war called and instead Dad joined the Royal Army Medical Corp. While Dad served at the end of the war – Dad was shipped out to Singapore to do his service as a young medic. Fortunately, Dad was not involved in combat and while his time in the army was short – he would spin many a tale about his adventures in the Far East and had the photos to prove it!!! When Dad would “start in” with his stories, we all ran – but oh how we would dearly love to hear now one more story of DAD’S adventures and friendships made.

Upon returning to England, Dad met and fell in love with our mother and in 1953 they were married and shortly after came to Canada with a young child, our brother Paul, and our beloved Nanna.

Dad had a storied career that started out with The Toronto Star and retired early at the age of 58 to pursue travel to Florida in the winters where the grandkids always enjoyed a spring break together. We have many fond memories of Dad driving his golf cart the wrong way and not being too worried about the lane he was driving in.

Dad was passionate and enthusiastic about the things he enjoyed in life. Dad was a soccer coach for his sons’ teams, Maple Leafs hockey fan, avid gardener, lifetime Legion member, golfer, lawn bowler, volunteer and above all else a wonderful father to us four kids. We had so much fun growing up and were lucky to share his love of travel and his keen sense of adventure and fun. Dad’s great sense of “British humor” taught us to be able to laugh at ourselves that helped build our characters and resilience.

Our hearts are full with love and gratitude for having such an incredible father and friend and sadness at our loss. Dad we know you wanted to stay with us and that made the journey so much harder. It is bittersweet that you are no longer with us but we know you are finally at peace. We saw how hard you fought, and we always called you a tough soldier. We were proud of you Dad.

Dad leaves behind our dear mother Anne Saunders, children Paul, Alan, John and Lisa, daughter in law Denise (married to John), son in law Domenic (married to Lisa), daughter in law Gloria (deceased - married to Alan).

Dad was lucky to enjoy his grandchildren and watch them grow into amazing adults. He leaves behind grandchildren, Adam, Nick (Michelle married to Nick), Matthew, Amanda, (Andrew married to Amanda) Colin, Brett and Marlee, including two little great grandchildren, Zephyr and Noa. Dad sadly lost his younger brother Alan this same year of 2022 and is sadly missed by our dear surviving Aunt Josee (married to Alan) of England.

Dad also leaves behind his brother-in-law Frank Shaw, Frank’s wife Aileen, nieces Karen, Melanie (deceased) and great nieces and nephews.

Dad also leaves behind our Australian family, cousin Glenn Shaw and his wife Rose, their children and
grandchildren and cousin Murray Shaw.

There are so many wonderful stories and memories of Dad that will last a lifetime.

We would like to take this time to thank the PSW care providers from March of Dimes - they carried dad on their shoulders. We owe March of Dimes and the wonderful team that supported Dad these past few years, a world of debt. We are forever grateful. Donations in lieu of flowers would also be gratefully accepted to https://www.marchofdimes.ca/en-ca

We would also like to take the time to thank the Dorothy Ley Hospice (Etobicoke) and their incredible palliative care team with special thanks to Dr. Chris Gilchrist who helped make the journey along the way with DAD a lot less scary. Donations in lieu of flowers would also be gratefully accepted to https://dlhospice.org/

Dad, we will soldier on – as you taught us to do. We tried everything we could to keep you – but we had to let you go. You did your best – and it was pretty darn good.

With all our love, your loving family.

Derek will be cremated at Turner Porter Funeral with no service or viewing at this time. A celebration of life ceremony will take place next summer, in 2023 at the place dad loved – in cottage country at our family cottages. Family and friends will be invited to attend and will be contacted with the date in advance.

Some of Dad’s ashes will also be taken to England and placed next to his brother in the spring of May 2023.