From posts and comments online, 25-year-old Stephanie Imeson, of Chatham-Kent, and 27-year-old Derek Comartin, of Stoney Point, were well-respected by their community and friends.
Stephanie Imeson and Derek Comartin drowned in Lake Le Grou on August 30/22 (Facebook) Madison Hope told CTV News she has been friends with Imeson since the 5th grade and is devastated by the loss. Hope welled up for her friend with love. “She was definitely a huge inspiration to have her as a friend. Her heart was wild, fierce, kind and empathetic. She was such a beautiful person,” she said. “Stephanie was someone who would help anyone. She would give anyone the clothes off her back. She was so sweet and peaceful to be around. Every time I was with her, she took all my worries away! Plus, she was hilarious! Although very shy, once she started, she was hectic!” Hope said Imeson and Comartin had been together for seven or eight years. Derek and Stephanie 2015 (Facebook) “He was her master! I mean he was her first love and she was going to be with him forever,” she added. “I wish people knew how down to earth they were. They were animal lovers with the puppies and pigs they had. They both lived their lives with such free spirits and appreciated what they had. They were just such loving, caring, laid back people.” Imeson was described by her friend as a hard worker who loved her job at Stoney Point Convenience Store. “They both worked so hard to achieve what they had. I know it didn’t take much time off work,” Hope said. “May they both be at peace now and live in peace and grace in heaven.” A post on the Pointe-aux-Roches/Stony Point, Ontario Facebook page by a friend of the couple, Chris Clark, has been flooded with comments. “He was part of our Stoney point family. Derek and I skateboarded together as teenagers and together we spent time teaching the new kids at the skate park how to do a kickflip. He always had a smile on his face every moment of the day . Your happy wonderful funny soul, you will never be forgotten bro. He sacrificed his life to save his love. We would all do the same for our loved ones. He deserves all the respect, “said Tyler Pitchin about his friend . Imeson worked at the Stoney Point grocery store and one of her customers, Sharon Hooper, said she and her husband can’t stop thinking about the tragic news. “We really liked Stephanie and she was the only bright spot we had when we went to this store. She always came to tell me how much she liked my outfit,” Hooper said. “I only met Derek a few times with her and thought what a wonderful couple they made. Our hearts are broken and I feel so sorry for their family and friends who loved them so much.” Sarah Onorato Sims said she worked with Comartin. “Both were the nicest people and friends you could ask for. Worked with Derek for three years. Always happy and always made you laugh. Stephanie, (a) beautiful person inside and out, always a smile on her That’s so sad. I pray for the family and friends that they both rest in peace,” Sims said. Mark Lauzon said Comartin had done some technical work for him. “I can’t put this tragedy into words. I only knew Derek for a short time. He replaced my son’s hard drive a while ago. He really knew his stuff. I didn’t even want to be paid. I persisted. I met his girlfriend once and he was all smiles and a wonderful person – no doubt as sincere an offering as Derek. This is devastating. My deepest condolences to the families of both of these beautiful young souls,” Lauzon said. One of their neighbors, Raymond Labonte, also had fond memories of the couple. “They were great neighbors, them and their pig. Derek wore his tuka in 90 degree weather, had his own sense of style. Stephanie always with a smile and a laugh when my son and I saw her at the apartment or at the store ,” said Lambode. Stephanie and Derek with their pig (Facebook) The couple is seen in several photos with a pig, and Imeson was a member of the Potbelly Pig Rescue Network in Southern Ont. Two other people in the canoe during the tragic accident managed to reach the shore safely. OPP Const. Rob Lewis told CTV News neither Imesonn nor Comartin were found with life jackets.
