Margaret Derham

Beloved wife and mother, Margaret passed away peacefully at the age of 88, with family by her side.

An only child, Mum was born in Milford Haven, Wales, and at fourteen, met Kenneth, the man she would marry on her 21st birthday, and with whom she would spend the rest of her life. In June 1957, they emigrated to Canada with their three-year-old daughter and settled in Toronto, but the Canada they were looking for was British Columbia, and they finally moved there in 1989.

Mum was a bright, beautiful, kind, generous and energetic lady who embraced life, and who was loved by all who knew her. She cherished good books and music, was an absolute whiz at math and English, and enjoyed working as a bookkeeper long before computers added up the columns for her.

An active sportswoman, Mum swam miles with Dad in the old Qualicum College Inn pool, played golf and snooker, and even tried water skiing. But it was tennis and badminton she loved best and she played both well into her 80’s! Mum was an exceptional cook, and dinners at our home were celebrations of food, family, and friends. Most of all, she loved to laugh, and we will miss that sweet laughter and gentle warmth every day of our lives.

Mum leaves behind her devoted husband of nearly 68 years, Ken, and her loving daughter, Gail (Klas). She will be sorely missed by brothers-in-law, Dilwyn, and David (Jill), along with many friends and family, both in Wales and in the local area.

We extend our sincere thanks to the doctors and nurses who looked after Mum in her later years. In particular, Dr. Carson and her team at the Nanaimo Kidney Care Clinic, Dr. Biglow in Qualicum Beach, and Dr. Otte and the wonderful nurses in the Palliative Care unit at NRGH, who cared for Mum during the last week of her life.

In Mum’s honour, and in lieu of flowers, we ask that donations kindly be made to the Alzheimer’s Society of British Columbia or the Kidney Foundation of BC.