Carl Ronald deVyver

On Sunday, May 10, 2026, the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman (5th Sunday of Pascha), the world and all those who benefited from Carl’s 91 years in this life lost a great soul. On this day, eight months after having had a stroke, the Lord allowed Carl to join Him in His heavenly Kingdom. This was the fulfillment of Carl’s lifelong spiritual journey of knowing, following, trusting, and serving God above all else. It was a blessing that the Lord took Carl home on the day when the appointed Gospel reading describes Christ’s conversation with the Samaritan woman, when He revealed Himself as the Living Water and declared that people are called to worship God in Spirit and in Truth, as Carl had been doing his whole life.

Having learned to read at the age of three, Carl was always reading and learning and expanding throughout his whole long life. He could teach himself anything he set his mind to, including at least six languages and several language dialects, braille, sign language; law, medicine, theology, the Bible, and in his earlier days, accounting, ham radio, fire department work, and the highest levels as a para-medic, EMT and para-legal, to mention just a few of his many areas of expertise and experience. He had been licensed in at least ten disciplines. He has worn many hats throughout his long life. He could easily memorize anything important to him, such as extensive Bible passages, the Latin Mass, the Slavonic Liturgy, historical documents, and speeches. In high school, his skills in math and science earned him a four-year college scholarship in chemical engineering. But at the age of 20, instead of science, he chose to pursue serving God in His holy Church initially as a Protestant, then Catholic and Old Catholic, and then he embraced the fullness of Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church, discovering that his heart was solidly Orthodox.

Carl was born and raised in New York City. He received his B.A. from Queens College in Queens NYC, having previously studied chemistry at Cooper Union and several years at a Bible college, and later at an Orthodox seminary.

The latest chapters in Carl’s life have been in Buffalo, where his life has been very full. His main work has been in law, where his specialty has been getting dozens of innocent people out of prison, frequently after many years of false incarceration. In addition to his extensive legal work, he was involved with many other things, especially at church, and offered spiritual counsel to many people. He served as president of his church parish council, and was on the board or otherwise was involved with the WNY Mensa, Alliance Française French Club, the Estonian Club, and regularly attended their gatherings. He was actively involved in supporting several local politicians. He helped many people when he served as an ombudsman for the Erie County and NYS Health Departments. Carl loved attending many local concerts, lectures, seminars, retreats, weekly Bible study, and political events. In his last two years (2024 and 2025), at the annual regional Mensa conference in Pittsburgh, he gave hour-long presentations about his pioneering legal work.

Every Christmas since his mother reposed in 2006, Carl drove to Detroit for Christmas at his sister’s. Carl never retired, but was still doing all these things at the age of 90. He firmly believed that “age” is a state of mind, and his mind was perpetually young, open, and expanding. His health issues were under control, so he drove anywhere and everywhere, did everything, and was totally independent until his stroke in September 2025.

Two funerals are planned for Carl. The first funeral is a “Celebration of Carl’s Life” for Carl’s friends in and near Buffalo, at Pietszak Funeral Home, Cheektowaga, NY, on Thursday, May 21st, at 12 noon. The second funeral arrangements are in Michigan, and include a Parastas/Panikhida at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, Redford, MI, on Tuesday, May 26th at 7:00 pm, and then the Orthodox Funeral/Burial Service, also at St. Michael’s, on Wednesday, May 27th, at 12 noon. Following the Service, Carl will be buried at the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Church Cemetery in Dexter, MI. A fortieth-day Parastas/Panikhida will be served at St. Michael’s Church, possibly on Saturday, June 20th, at 12 noon, followed by a fellowship meal. (Details to be arranged.) A third-day Parastas/Panikhida was served on Tuesday, May 12th, also at St. Michael’s.

Carl’s family is very small. He never married, and so he has no children. His only close surviving relative is his sister, Sister Ioanna (Dr. Jane deVyver) of Redford, MI. There are a few distant cousins. Pre-deceased are his mother, Ethel Elizabeth, and his father, Wayne Joshua.

May the Lord grant peace to His newly departed servant, Carl Ronald, and make his MEMORY to be ETERNAL! Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs, bestowing Life!