If you do not or cannot have a sense of humour, do not read any further.

I will be the first one to admit that I was never close to Derrick and I don’t have many memories of him. I always knew him as “Uncle Phillip” and that he was different compared to everyone else. 

When Uncle Phillip passed, my cousin and I both acknowledged our lack of memories of him. My cousin commented that his main memory was when Uncle Phillip would always tease him. It’s only as an adult that he understood that this was Uncle Phillip’s way of trying to engage and play. Uncle Phillip used to tease me as well. My cousin might have been too young to tease back but I was not. 

Uncle Phillip’s cousins often referred to him as “Nikky.” When Uncle Phillip used to tease me, I would tease him back. As a young child, I was quite proud to say “Nicky Nicky has no Dicky.” I felt that I got him really good with that because he had nothing to say after that :) In hindsight, it was mean however, I was a child and that was my way of pushing back when he teased me. This is definitely one of my more memorable moments in interacting with Uncle Phillip. 

My other memorable moment is when he took me to Paramount Canada’s Wonderland. I would have been about 11 years old at the time and my mother passed away the prior year. I remember giving him a really difficult time because I wanted to stay and it was getting late and we had to catch a GO Bus back to Scarborough. He got really upset with me but in looking back, he was only trying to care and look out for his nephew; a nephew who was vulnerable because he recently lost his mother.

To Uncle Phillip, I hope you’re in a better place and with reunited with your mum and dad! 

Brandon

My Cousin Nicky (Derrick)


Today on 4-4-22 at 4.50 my youngest cousin from my mother’s side passed away at Humber River Hospital from myriad afflictions he was suffering from. I saw him on video and said a few words which he may or may not have heard as he was unconscious. He was in a hospital room with more monitors and intravenous medications than there were people. I saw twelve of them hanging from poles and would not wish anyone to be in his place. He had no brain activity for two weeks and the life support was keeping him alive. He died as soon as it was shut off.


Nicky was born in August 1960 in Peshawar.  His mother was in the seventh month of her pregnancy when she went into labour. Her husband was away on one of his flights, leaving her with two young boys. Neighbours called an ambulance and he was born en route, an hour away from the hospital. At 7 months he should have been in an incubator immediately and may have suffered some damage due to oxygen deprivation.


He was only 5 pounds, the smallest among the brothers who were both over 8 pounds at birth. My aunt visited us when he was 5 months old and he was still tiny. He was very cute with curly hair and dark lively eyes and a happy go lucky personality. We visited my aunt in Mauripur, Karachi and he was the apple of everyone’s eye. It was during that visit my uncle gave us the news that he had applied for a job at ICAO in Montreal and had been offered a lucrative position. Everyone was in shock, including my aunt. Canada seemed so far away. My aunt was to go first with her older 8 year old to London to see if she liked it, and the younger two would return to Dhaka with us and be looked after by my grandmother. With three girl cousins, constantly playing with them, dressing them, they probably forgot about their mummy and daddy. Nicky had his first birthday in Dhaka.

After about 8 months, their father came to pick them up and both the children wouldn’t go near him. He must have had a terrible time w

My Dearest Brother Derrick,
I  will miss you and may you rest in eternal peace.  I was the only one present to see you depart this world  at the Humber River Hospital and be by your side in your final moments; I shared your pain and I was happy I was there and able to deliver the last rites of passage with the Priest . You had a hard life no doubt but I admired your tenacity to survive. 
When going through your apartment; I noted memento's of your life’s accomplishments.  You were a caring person with a sense of family and sometimes your family failed you in support. 

Soon you will be with Dad and Mom; next to them. Today is  Dad’s birthday and he will be happy to know that you will be near Mom and Dad. 
Omar , Tara and Puri send their love and have always been impacted by your expressions of  genuine love for them. 

God Bless you and your soul in the next life,✝️❤️🙏🏽

Love and Hugs,
Brother Henry
April  10, 2022

OBITUARY

Derrick Phillip Roy

August 3, 1960 – April 4, 2022

Giffen-Mack Funeral Home & Cremation Centre

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