HIM WING WOO

Him Wing Woo, age 92, passed away peacefully in the early hours of August 4, 2025 at his residence. He is preceded in death by his wife, Toy Fong.

Born on October 11, 1932 in Hoi Ping, China, Him Wing was the 3rd son in his family. His father left for Canada when he was young and he would later join him in Canada at age 17. He was very good at mathematics as a teenager. He attended high school with Toy Fong Seto who he would later marry. As a teenager, he would study and also work part-time for his uncle’s business near his home.

His father asked him to move to Canada in 1948. He lived in Hong Kong for 2 years before being able to travel by cargo ship from Hong Kong to San Francisco. He then travelled by train to Vancouver, Canada. A few days later, he took another train to Toronto to join his father. At the train station in Toronto, he needed the use of recent photographs to meet his father as he had not seen him for many years. Sadly, his father took ill after only a few years together and passed of a heart condition.

He went on to work in restaurants in various locations in Ontario, Quebec and Ohio - until settling in Toronto again. After many years, he saved up to become part owner of a Chinese restaurant at age 27. A mutual friend re-introduced him to Toy Fong Seto in 1960. He moved to Hong Kong to spend time with Toy Fong and would get married one year later. Their first born Amelia was born in Hong Kong. They immigrated back to Scarborough, Ontario in 1963 and lived in their first family home. Peter and Henry were born shortly after.

He went on to own and manage two other Chinese restaurants over the next three decades. Later on, he decided to take a job working at Canada Post and would continue working there as well as the restaurant until his retirement at age 60.

He was an easy-going, kind, caring and gentle father and grand-father. He had a love for sports cars, cooking and travelling. The family members continue to cook and follow his recipes. He declared his joy of his life was caring for his grandchildren with his wife. In retirement, he and Toy Fong helped care for their 5 grandchildren - Christopher, Lauren, Matthew, Olivia and Tasha. He was very proud of his children and grandchildren. Sadly his wife died in 2005. He would re-locate to Vancouver in 2007 to live with Henry’s family and help care for his two daughters. He returned to Toronto in December 2024.

Him Wing Woo is survived by his three children and their spouses, Amelia and
Derby, Peter and Frances, Henry and Janet and his five grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. His passing has left a void in the hearts of his family and many whose lives were touched by him.