As said by Jeff, I never had the chance to meet either of my grandfathers, so when Pappa (and Nanna) joined our family, it was amazing for us.  Pappa truly did take us in as family and loved us as though we were one of his own grandchildren by birth.  He was an amazing man, who loved to come and visit Canada (before he moved here) and spoil all those around him for the duration of his visit.  So how wonderful it was when he moved here to spend his final years close to the family and friends who loved him so much.
We cherished all the time we had with him and I know that my children loved their great-grandfather so much.  Whether it was sneaking down for Werther's candies in his apartment, enjoying his amazing trifle at Christmas, watching golf and football, sharing a dance at the Christmas party or just having a cup of tea, the memories are plentiful and wonderful.
I know the kids and I miss Pappa so much and remember him always.

Love you Pappa!!
Kris

Dad it has taken me two years to put my thoughts in here and only because I miss you so much.  It is coming up to 2 years since you passed away (and 23 years since we lost Mum.  Hopefully you are together now and enjoying each other as much as you did for all the years I knew you together).

The past two years has been very strange as our lives have changed so much. When you left I felt as if a huge part of me had gone too and I think that that winter I just stayed in a great deal just to be near your apartment and your wonderful spirit. As you know our dog Cody developed Cancer exactly 2 months after you left and I am sure this happened because he missed his best friend that he would visit daily especially around lunch time. 

Dad you were the best Dad I could have had and my memories of you are too many to put into words.  I actually wrote your eulogy and said most of what I knew right there.  May be I should post it up here so that our family can see it.

I am sitting in your chair now as I have had it all recovered and have it up in the Family Room now. It always reminds me of sitting by your fireplace in Bradford On Avon talking about many different subjects and of course watching t.v. after supper. Daniel and Matthew have both been back to No. 12 and still talk of the times that you spent with them there and the wonderful games of golf you had.  

You now have 8 Great Grandchildren.  The last one you saw was Jeremy only 2 days old just before you left us and since then we have Avery and Greyson... all with amazing little characters.  I wish they had known their "Pappa" but you are talked about by all the rest so much that they will know you in spirit anyway. 

I am going to stop there for now and will talk again very soon.  I had better go and get supper for Roger and I ..... are you going to come up and join us as usual???

Love you and miss you so much 

your ever loving daughter Sally Janexoxo

I never knew either of my own grandfathers, so when Pappa came in to our family it was such an amazing change. He took my brother, sister and me into his heart as if he had known us all our lives, and that meant so much to us. 
His sense of humour fit right in with the mile-a-minute pace of our family dinners, and it was always fun to watch him with the ever-growing crowd of great-grand-kids. 
He will definitely be missed by every single person in the Fryer-Charlesworth family, but all those memories of him will stay with us forever.

I am the newest member of the family, and therefore knew Pappa for the shortest amount of time, which means that my memories of him are only from the past ten years. However, that doesn't change that Derrick Lang was only ever known to me as ‘Pappa', by word and by heart, as he was as much a Grandfather to me as he could've ever been. From my first trip to England, when he graciously opened his home and welcomed me into the warmth of his kitchen, to the last memories I have of him, ever smiling and visibly happy to see us, Pappa was my family. 

At heart I believe that Pappa was a family man, devoted in every way to his daughter and madly in love with his grandchildren. While I truly wish that Greyson had that opportunity to meet his Great-Grandfather, I take joy in knowing that Pappa was one of the first people that we told when we knew we were expecting and he was so happy for us. I will tell Greyson (and any other great-grandchildren) about the Pappa I knew and remember: an incredibly kind and loving man who could always crack a joke, was extremely independent, loved watching and playing golf with his Grandsons, was so willing to make others happy that he would consider buying me anything purple, would wear the turquoise sweater when we came over because I always said how much I loved it on him, always had treats to offer like Quality Street or cookies, would made us a delicious dinner anytime he could, had the most mischievous twinkle in his eye, was very well-spoken, and so many other memories big and small. 

I hope that Pappa knew how much he was loved and that he'll always be remembered with love.

To remember Papa means to me remembering someone inclusive mischievous and full of life.  He enveloped me into his extended family knowing nothing more than that I was Sally's niece and thus by extension family.  I will never forget how he invited me to his home in England scarcely knowing me from any stranger.  While I never made it out to visit him at Bradford on Avon, I can only be pleased that that was because he chose to move to Toronto where I got to see him more regularly.  I remember how he used to love watching golf with his grandchildren, how he enjoyed being out and about with the family at any number of cultural events and the twinkle in his eye when visiting my parents over Easter and teasing my Dad about something or other.  To me Papa was a family man of the highest caliber and his amazing legacy is in the close knit family of his daughter, her children and her grandchildren.

We miss you, Poppa.  Natalie asks about you all the time.  We told her that you're in heaven.  She thinks that Heaven is above the clouds.  She always asks about you when she sees clouds in the sky.

My Grandfather (Pappa).  What a remarkable man, in so many ways.  These are just a few of the things that stand out:

-First of all, so stuck in his ways, and my goodness did he ever love (read: need) his routines.  I'm not sure he really knew what to do with himself when his daily routine was broken.  To give you an example, there's no doubt he absolutely loved it when we came to visit him in Bradford-on-Avon, back in England, but I think we turned his world absolutely upside down every time we arrived.  This would explain why he was so willing to stay back for many of our day trips - he needed that time to do his own thing and ground himself again.

-And what a stubborn bugger…  I mean, he could certainly be difficult at times, which apparently runs in the family, but I'm confident it was that stubbornness that helped him through the toughest of times.  That stubbornness translated to just an amazing amount of “fight” which was evident right to the very end.

-But above all he was a very, very loving man and I think it was clear to anyone that knew him.  Such a good husband to my Nanna and she was always, and very obviously, kept near and dear to his heart.  He was also an unbelievable father to my mum.  He would have done, and/or given up, anything for her.  Spoiling her was something that he always loved to do.  He was an incredible grandfather and someone that we always admired and looked up to.  And as a great grandfather he was adored.  I think one of his favourite things, certainly in the last few years, was to have his great grand children come to visit.  One of my favourite things was to watch him light up when he was around them.  Mum could tell me that he's been having a rough day or two leading up to our visit and that would be gone the second the kids walked in the door – a big bright smile would instantly come over his face.  Natalie talked about Pappa all the time, and there could be no mention of going to Nanna and Grampa's house without her very clearly pointing out that “it's Pappa's house too.  We're going to see Pappa too!”  In fact, one of Natalie's favourite things to do at Nanna and Grampa's house was to run around with a fireman hat on (backwards of course), but she always had to make sure that Pappa was wearing his purple plastic top hat as well.  He was such a good sport about it – the two of them were a right pair.  I'm also so greatful that Pappa had a chance, though only brief, to meet Jeremy – and that we have pictures to prove it.

I have so many great memories of Pappa, everything from sitting down to a plate of his famous eggs, chips and peas while visiting him in England, to enjoying some quality time with him on the golf course (Earlestoke of course).  The best part is that these memories will be with me forever more.  

I'm so glad that you're no longer suffering.  I love you and miss you so very much, Pappa!

Sadly missed lovingly remembered.

Rest in peace Uncle Derrick

28 years ago, Derrick and I got off to a rocky start. However, as the years passed, with trips to England and his frequesnt visits here, we developed a relationship. Then when he came to live with us for these past 5 years, we became a family. We did a lot of fun things together and a lot of great memories were created. There is a hole in our lives now and we miss him.

To the family of Derrick Lang,

Our deepest condolences go out to all the family members and close friends who were blessed to have been a part of this gentle man’s life.

I didn’t get to know him all that well but going through the photographs and being around Sally, Dan and Matthew, I just know they were very lucky to have him in their lives.  BTW, A great dresser indeed!

We apologize for not being able to be with you all today but please celebrate the life that was with a great smile.

Dan, I’m just a stone’s throw away if you ever need anything.

The Mombourquette family

To the family of Derrick Lang,

Our deepest condolences go out to all the family members and close friends who were blessed to have been a part of this gentle mans life.

I did not get to know him all that well but going through the photographs and being around Sally, Dan and Matthew, I just know they were very lucky to have him in their lives.  BTW, A great dresser indeed!

We apologize for not being able to be with you all today but please celebrate the life that was with a great smile.

Dan, I'm just a stones throw away if you ever need anything.

The Mombourquette family

Unfortunately I did not know Derrick but I have known Sally since 1975, and even though we have stayed in touch over the past 34 of those years from across the ocean, she has always talked about her Dad with affection and much love.

It is with sadness that I send our deepest sympathy and condolences on your great loss.

I am sorry that I cannot be there for the Memorial Service, but am sure it will be a wonderful celebration of his life, which I have come to know through you over the years.

May he rest in peace.

Your Longtime Friends From Across the Seas
Vicky & Dimitri

OBITUARIO

Derrick William Lang

1 marzo, 1922 – 8 agosto, 2011

Thompson Funeral Home

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