Obituary of Derek Francis Ian Greensides

Dr. Derek Francis Ian Greensides September 6, 1945 - July 28, 2025 Dr. Derek Francis Ian Greensides, born on September 6, 1945, in Hamilton, Ontario; and raised in, Port Colbourne Ontario. His parents, Francis & Helen Greensides owned and operated Glenmount Memorials in Port Colbourne, Ontario, Canada. In Port Colbourne, Derek was active in Scouting as a participant and youth leader.

Derek’s family moved to Southern California when he was a junior in high school. He graduated from Orange High School, in Orange, California.

Derek married Arletta Greensides (Abernathy) in 1966. They met at Harvey’s restaurant in 1963 across the street from Disneyland, where Derek, his mother, his future mother-in-law, and his future wife all worked.

Derek and his father attended the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic together, graduating in 1967 to become Doctors of Chiropractic in 1968. They opened their practice in Anaheim, California, very close to the Crystal Cathedral and Disneyland.

Derek and his family relocated in 1974 to Powell River, British Columbia, Canada where he operated a chiropractic practice, later returning in 1978 to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he operated his chiropractic practice until his retirement.

Derek felt called to help his patients to heal and recover – and he often treated patients at no charge, if they had no insurance or were unable to pay.

Derek was active in his faith communities in the Anglican and Episcopal Church – serving as a lay reader at Trinity, Orange County, California; Saint Paul’s in Powell River, British Columbia; Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in San Bruno, California; and Saint Edmund’s in Pacifica, California. Derek served on church vestries as a Senior Warden, a lay eucharist minister, a member of the church choir, a music leader, and as Director of Camp Saint Andrew’s.

Derek was also active in the Cursillo renewal movement in San Francisco for decades, serving as rector twice, music leader, and member of the secretariat (board of directors).

Derek was a freemason for fifty years – serving as Master of Blue Lakes Lodge, San Bruno, California; a member of Burlingame, California lodge; Sottish Rite of the San Francisco Valley, and as a member of La Parfaite Union Lodge in San Francisco (a French-speaking masonic lodge). While living in California, Derek studied French, became fluent, and was an advocate for and a close friend and ally of La Parfaite Union. Derek served as the Fraternal Support Services Ambassador from 2005 through 2014, an Inspector from 1991 through 2006, and received the Hiram Award in 1993.

Derek loved music, playing the keyboard and the accordion. Derek and his sister, Maureen Pacek, took accordion lessons together as children. Playing the accordion brought Derek significant joy and memories of his sister.

Derek retired and relocated to London, Ontario, in 2014 - living close to his youngest daughter, Shara.

Derek was married for 44 years to Arletta Greensides (Abernathy) – now divorced. They had five children together. Derek is survived by his former spouse, Arletta; his children: Dana, Sean, Iain, Tricia, and Shara; grandchildren: Carolyn, Sean Thomas, Julianna, Jessica, Samantha, Nathaniel, Megan, Emily, Jacob, and Paddric Lyn; and great-grandchildren: Lilly, Tucker, Zaiden, Ezra, Coralia, Isaiah, and Alex.