Derrington "Derek" Melder
March 4th, 2017
Derrington (Derek) Melder passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus at the age of 71 on March 4, 2017. He is survived by Judy, his loving wife of nearly 44 years; daughters Cheryl (Tim) and Jocelyn; 2-year-old grandson Grayson; siblings Mignon, Joan, Frank and Daryl; and a closely woven group of extended family both here in Canada and overseas in Sri Lanka and Australia.
Derrington worked for many years at Canadian Airlines and Air Canada, and had many other interests. He spent over 3 decades playing cricket, a sport he both loved and excelled at. He greatly enjoyed the outdoors and all wildlife; he was especially enamoured with exploring the beauty of the oceans, lakes and mountains in BC. He was the only one in the family who had a green thumb, and his well-manicured yard and rose garden were admired by neighbours. He was a gentle spirit, with a wickedly wonderful sense of humour, and though he was a man of few words he deeply loved all his family and friends. The bedrock of his life was his foundation in Christ and his steadfast Faith in God.
A funeral for Derrington will be held on Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 at 10:00 am at Broadmoor Baptist Church, 8140 Saunders Road, Richmond, BC. The funeral service will be followed by a viewing and reception. The graveside service at Boundary Bay Cemetery at 1:00pm is for family members only.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Derrington’s name to either the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, or Parkinson Canada.
You are invited to leave personal messages of condolence for the family, or share memories of Derrington below.
Messages:
OMG!!. My heart-filled condolences to the whole family and close friends of Derek. I am speechless. I used to play cricket with Derek in the 70's and 80's until I decided to go to Europe and the Middle East and eventually stay and live here in Berlin. I did get a chance to see Derek among other fellow Richmond Cricketers sometime in the 90's. At this time I was playing for Germany and decided I would like to see all my friends again..... I did enjoy one more match for Richmond at the Upper Brockton Oval with the likes of Chris Ryan, Phil Benjamin and not to forget Angus and Olkie as well..... It was a day I will never forget.... Strangely enough the two moments in my almost 50 Runs in a dying effort for a Richmond win, were when I hit the biggest six of my life till this day which was as high as far and landed in the middle of the wicket on Lower Brockton upon which I could hear the cheer of one South African Mr. Benjamin with beer-in-hand on the balcony of the Club House.... the other moment was much more vivid and of greater importance to me, having been a FAN of Derek all those years of watching him take oodles of wickets and scoring so many important opening runs for the RCC. In our dying moment, where all the others were either at the bowling end watching me go for the win or not lasting long enough, in came Derek and did exactly what I used to do for him (or at least tried to)... in the early days. He hung in there for a while. And in the middle of it all he came to the middle of the wicket to compliment the way I was batting... I actually told him it was the style of Cricket I had to get used to playing for a West Indian team in Berlin.....He took one look at me gave the glove punch and said "I have never seen a better innings from you" => True story..... Derek I for one will miss you greatly!!! Your long time cricket mate and friend, Rex.
There are no words except that Derrington and I were friends for about 52 years. We both came from the same town in Sri Lanka. We had a strong friendship even though the last time I saw him as in 1973, when he visited Sri Lanka with his wife on honeymoon. I never saw him again, but we kept in touch. As the tears went by and his health deteriorated, I once told him that I that I was thinking of visiting him in Canada, to which he asked me to remember him as he was back n the old days in Sri Lanka. He did not want me to see him in the state he was. I respected his wishes. I am heart broken he's gone from our midst but happy his suffering is over. I will always think of him and miss him. He was a sincere friend and a devoted family man. Rest in Peace dear friend. I will never forget you. God rest your soul, until we meet again. Jennifer Pereira