Clarence Derow, beloved husband of Alice Derow of Canora, passed away peacefully with his family by side at the Canora Hospital on February 16, 2012 at the age of 81 years. Clarence was born in Ituna, SK on December 6, 1930 to Mike and Maggie (Shumay) Derow. He attended North Lake School, St. Joseph College in Yorkton and graduated from the Yorkton Collegiate High School. His early career included working as an orderly at the Weyburn Hospital, at the Grey Nun's Hospital in Regina and at the Yorkton Hospital. Clarence then attended the University of Saskatchewan from 1957 to 1958, studying commerce, and it was there that he began his relationship with Sheptytsky Institute in Saskatoon. Clarence was united in marriage to Alice Oucharek on October 10, 1959 at St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yorkton. They made their home in Canora where they raised seven children: Gwen, Myron, Marianne, David, Michael, Boris and Evan. After a short time as an employee of Lockhart Travel, Clarence made it on his own to open Canora Agencies in 1961 with his wife Alice by his side. Not one to shirk his civic responsibilities, he became very involved in both church and community. He was a member of the Canora Town Council, and held various executive positions in the Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club, Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Ukrainian Catholic Church Camp of Saskatchewan, Sheptytsky Institute in Saskatoon, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood, and the Canora Housing Authority. Always closely involved in his children's activities, he often volunteered to chaperone out-of-town band trips, swim meets, and UCY events. Clarence also coached his sons' various baseball teams for many years and successfully took Myron's Bantam team to secure the Provincial Championship in 1975. Not to be outdone by his performing wife and children, perhaps one of his proudest moments was his depiction of Simon of Cyrene in The Mystery of the Passion of Christ, a role he played for six years. He leaves to mourn his passing and to cherish his memory, his wife Alice of 52 years; daughter Gwen (David) and their children Vincent, Michelle, Larissa and Andrew; son Myron and his daughter Michaela; daughter Marianne; son David; son Michael (Kari) and their children Kaylin, Arianna and Alexandra; son Boris (Darcia) and their son Dominic; and son Evan (Melanie) and their children Jessica, Magdalyn and Abigail; his Aunt Pauline (Shumay) Kozier; his sister-in-law Carol (Furman) Derrow and family; his sister-in-law Elsie (Kastalanych) Kohut and family; his brother-in-law Tony (Anne) Oucharek and family; his sister-in-law Margaret (Nick) Antony and family; his brother-in-law Victor (Phyllis) Kastalanych and family; his brother-in-law Orest (Lorraine) Oucharek and family; his brother-in-law Norman (Ann) Oucharek and family; and his brother-in-law Albert (Pat) Oucharek and family. Clarence was predeceased by his parents Mike and Maggie (Shumay) and his three brothers Lawrence, Harry and Emil and his in-laws, Peter and Mary Oucharek. The Vigil of Prayer service was held on Monday, February 20, 2012 at 7:00 P.M. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. both from Sts. Peter & Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Canora with Rev. Fr. J. Rac, Celebrant. Rite of Committal followed in the Canora Cemetery. Those wishing to make expressions of sympathy may make donations to the Sts. Peter & Paul Ukr. Cath. Church Building Fund or to the Ukr. Cath. Church Camp of Saskatchewan as tokens of remembrance in memory of Clarence. Those unable to attend may sign an on-line guest book at www.lesonsfuneralhome.ca. Arrangements were entrusted to LESON'S FUNERAL HOME, Canora. (563-5671).
