Caroline M. Derkach 1949-2025

Caroline was born on Dec. 5, 1949, a daughter of Bernard and Marjorie Charles, and sister to Harry “Chike,” Tom, Dick and Bernie Charles and Margie D’Alesandro, who all preceded her in passing.

She attended St. Rose Catholic School and was a graduate of Girard High School.

After graduation, she relocated to South Carolina for a short period of time before returning to

Northeast Ohio, where she began working at Packard Electric and met the love of her life, Richard Derkach.

It was funny to hear them tell the story of when they met: how Caroline struggled to keep up with the production line and as the line supervisor, Richard stepped in to help her; what started as a team at work blossomed into a team for life!

Caroline and Richard married in 1977 and completed and moved into the home they built together in Cortland in the same year. Their new house became the gathering place for family and friends and a home for her two stepdaughters, Jackie Graham and Christine Daugherty.

Three years later, they welcomed a daughter, Heather, to the family.

Caroline filled many roles and took on a lot of different titles, but none were more important to her than the title of wife and mother. Everything she did was for the best interest of her family.

If her family was happy, she was happy.

Over the years, she watched that family grow; she was blessed with seven grandkids, Ashley, Bryan, Dakota, Emily, Mason, Marin and Lennox, and two great-grandkids, Jaxson and Briella.

While devastated by the loss of their “grammy,” all of her grandchildren were fortunate to spend a lot of individual time with her; she will forever be in their hearts and memories of her will be passed down to their own children.

Not a holiday or card game will go by without her being on the minds of all that knew her, no one did holidays better and no one was ready to play cards like her! Her laughter, her feistiness, her calming hugs and beautiful blue eyes will be missed and longed for by her family, but our faith assures us that we will be together again when it is our time to be called home.

She was greeted in heaven by so many family and friends which gives her earthly family comfort.

While her entire family grieves, no one feels the void more than her beloved husband. For several years, Richard has reminded her daily that she is and will always be his “Bestest Friend.”

Their love and commitment to each other never wavered and has been the real-life depiction of every love story ever written.

Caroline’s wishes were to be cremated and for her immediate family to be together, to enjoy dinner and each other.

The family is in the care of Lane Funeral Home, Shafer-Winans Chapel, with online condolences at www.lanefuneralhomes.com.

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