Our mother, Rita Poon Woo (nee Fung), passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on Friday, August 5, 2022 at 90 years of age. She was born in Guangzhou, China on June 28, 1932. She married our father, Neville Poon Woo (passed in 2017), in 1948 in China and journeyed to Trinidad to begin their lifelong adventure together in the West Indies. Later, they immigrated to Toronto, Canada in 1972 to continue on their journey for a better life for their children. Mother to Jean (Kelvin), Desmond (Cui), Carolyn (Gerry) and Derek (Anny). Grandmother to Nadia (Troy), Jaclyn (Bryan), Bryan, Vanessa (Steven), Claire (Mark), Kaitlyn, Jessica, Natasha, Spencer and Devon. Great-grandmother to Cheyenne, Isabella, Jayden, Madyson, Brayden, Kaia and Lee.

Rita was the ultimate wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Extremely hardworking, she valued family above everything else and providing for everyone was her superpower. Being the matriarch, she ensured that her family was always well-fed, clothed and content in a clean house. She was well-loved for her generosity and hospitality to all those who visited with us, lavishing all our friends and family with her delicious cooking. Every family birthday and milestone would be a reason to celebrate with wonderful food. She was fiercely proud of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She loved to travel with friends and family, and spoke excitedly about her many trips to the US, China and to many provinces across Canada. Her other passion included gardening in her huge backyard on Ryerson Ave which produced bountiful yields of organic vegetables for her family, relatives and friends for nearly 50 years. Playing mah jong and playing slots at the casinos were perhaps her only vices but she enjoyed both activities greatly. We all miss her tremendously but are heartened to know that she is reunited with our father and her loved ones who are pre-deceased.

Relatives and friends are invited to share their memories and stories, and to celebrate the life of Rita with her family during visitation at the York Funeral Centre at 160 Beecroft Rd, North York, on Friday, August 19, from 4-8pm. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, August 20, from 10-11am, preceded by a visitation from 9-10am.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Heart and Stroke foundation by clicking the donations tab.


All are welcome.