Obituary
Roderick James Vanderkemp
24 Nov 1964 – 11 March 2018
‘He was tired, he was ready…we weren’t.’
Somehow Rod knew this hospitalization felt different. Those who spoke to him over those last few months heard him say, “I’m ready.” He was visited by his closest friends & family in those final days; allowing us the opportunity to tell him how much we loved him & how much we would miss him. He hugged us close, told us he loved us too, & we knew that goodbye would come too soon.
On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning at Vancouver General Hospital, surrounded by Kerry & Lana, Teresa & Mark, his final breaths were no longer labored, but easy & peaceful. After a long battle with heart & lung disease, he was finally at rest.
Born to Shirley & Leo Vanderkemp, in Burnaby BC, Rod was the older brother to Teresa & Shauna. In 1973 the family moved to a new home in the small community of Merville on Vancouver Island. He attended Tsolum Elementary, Courtenay Jr. High School, & GP Vanier but left school in 1983 before he graduated.
He moved to Vancouver shortly thereafter & started working as a drywaller in the construction industry. For more than 30 years he did jobs all over the Lower Mainland & made many friends & acquaintances.
In 1994 he became the proud father of Kerry with his partner, Lana McKay. He loved being a dad more than anything. Even though he & Lana separated they remained close friends; and when Rod’s health was worsening he moved back in with Lana & Kerry, who helped to care for him during the last few years.
Rod was a happy, outgoing, fun loving guy who was quick to temper but just as quick to hug it out. In his free time he loved woodworking, camping, golfing, but most of all, fishing.
Predeceased by both his parents, Rod has requested to be cremated, with some of his ashes being spread at Anderson Lake near Mt. Washington in the Comox Valley.
A “Celebration of Life” will be held for Rod at 2:30 pm Saturday 14 April 2018 at Kearney’s Columbia-Powell Chapel 219 6th Street in New Westminster.
Please join us as we share stories that will make us laugh & cry…but mostly laugh, because that is what Rod would have wanted.
Nos plus sincères sympathies à la famille et aux amis de Roderick James Vanderkemp November 24 1964 March 11 2018.source
Décès pour la Ville: Vancouver, Province: Colombie britanique
