DEHENS, Urbain Alphonse (June 4, 1936 – March 5, 2022) –
Passed away, peacefully, on Saturday, March 5th, 2022, at the Norfolk General Hospital, Simcoe, with loving family by his side, Urbain Alphonse Dehens, a resident and proud former Langton tobacco farmer, at the age of 85. Born in Heule, W.F., Belgium, son of the late Jerome Dehens and the late Rachel (Oosterlynck) Dehens. Urbain was born and raised in Belgium where he learned technical mechanic and welding skills. In 1952, Urbain (age 15) and his sister Josie (now Josie (Alphons Mels), of Vanessa) and their parents immigrated to start a better life in Canada. Urbain was drawn to farm work, welding, creative metal designing, fall and spring tractor land work and overall successful tobacco farming on the Langton area family farm. Eventually he slowed down and retired yet proudly he continued to work side-by-side with son Dan and his wife Gina on the family farm keeping busy with farming operations, fixing broken equipment, welding, maintaining equipment, and looking forward to the fall and spring land work these were Urbain’s passion and great joy. Truly, Urbain spent a satisfying lifetime on the tobacco farm from the onset of his new life in Canada until the 1980’s when he helped his son Dan.
Urbain will be always remembered as thoughtful, generous, calming, and for his likeable personality who loved his children and wife Clara very much. Truly his four granddaughters were the “apple of his eye” and they brought him many happy memories. Urbain loved dogs and all animals in general and became fascinated with polar bears in his later years. Urbain served his church as a frequent usher at Sacred Heart Church throughout the years. Urbain is the much-loved husband of 63 years of Clara (Vermeersch) Dehens. Loved and proud loving father of Linda (Ron Sys), Otterville; and their daughter Rachel Sys; Dan (Gina) Dehens, Langton and their three daughters: Shauna (Leif), Lauren (Bryn Thomson), and Shae-Lynn (Chris) and a much hoped for first great-grandson, who is due sometime in May. Survived by his sister Josie (Alphons Mels), of Vanessa, and nieces, nephews and cousins in Belgium and Canada. Predeceased by two brothers in Belgium: Maurice and Gerard Dehens.
Friends, neighbours, and relatives are invited to attend public visitation on Wednesday, March 9th, 2022, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 6:00 to 8:00 pm in the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc., 40 Queen Street, Langton (519-842-4238). All attendees must wear a face mask. A Public Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, March 10th, 2022, at 12:00 noon at Sacred Heart R.C. Church, 24 Albert Street, Langton, by Rev. Fr. Thomas Kuriacko. Interment to follow in the Sacred Heart R.C. Cemetery, Langton. Cherished memories, favourite photos, letters of condolence, hugs from home and as expressions of sympathy (in lieu of flowers), memorial donations to the “Purrfect Companions of Norfolk” or to the “Sato Saved End of the Line Dog Rescue and Rehabilitation, Waterford” or to the “Simcoe and District Humane Society” or to the “Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat” or to “Sacred Heart R.C. Church, Langton” can be contributed via Urbain’s online tribute page at www.verhoevefuneralhomes.com or by cheque through the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes, Langton, entrusted with all funeral arrangements, with confidence.