Chew Hee Chang passed away peacefully on Feb. 26 at Birchmount Hospital in Scarborough at the age of 95, following a brief illness.

He leaves behind his devoted and caring wife of more than 75 years, Seto Kam Chang, son Michael (Sue Ng-Chang) and daughter May (Kevin MacLean), plus six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren, brother Gum (Voysee) and sister Joan (Jim Trapasso). He was predeceased by his parents Fong-Gee Chang and George Jang.

Rising from humble beginnings in a rural village in China nearly a century ago, Hee was the patriarch of the large, loving family that grew from the roots he and Kam established in their new life in Canada. Fleeing the civil war in China during the early 1950s, Hee and Kam made their way to freedom via Hong Kong.

They moved to Canada, settling in Ontario, where Sudbury became their home. Together with his brother Gum and others, they helped establish Bamboo Garden, a very successful Chinese restaurant in the City Centre in downtown Sudbury where Hee and Kam both worked for many years. Known for his hard work and dedication, Hee was a wizard with numbers and oversaw the business details of the restaurant as well as serving as a chef in the busy kitchen.

He was an accomplished cook and was the one to whom family members often turned when preparing special items such as lobster for major holiday meals. His precise culinary skills made him an expert at food preparation. His dishes were always perfectly presented. Kam and Hee eventually retired to join their son and daughter and their families in Toronto more than 30 years ago.

Well into their 90s, they continued to live on their own in their condo on Alton Towers Circle in Scarborough, socializing with their many friends, playing mah jong regularly, exercising in the neighbourhood park and relishing the time spent with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Hee was never deterred by a condition from childhood that eventually caused him to completely lose his hearing. He was able to lip read and communicate, despite his inability to hear.

He followed the stock markets and the news closely, enjoyed reading his favourite Chinese newspapers and looked forward to family gatherings and outings for dim sum or dinner, especially if there was the opportunity to play mah jong.

Hee is missed by all who knew him, including numerous nephews and nieces, but especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Melissa (Stephen Williams) and Ben; Jessica (Michael Florio) and Ava, Aiden and Ethan; Albert Chang (Kat Yiu Chang) and Ivy, Kyla and AJ; Lauren Chang MacLean (Jay Charbonneau) and Blair and Penelope; Sean MacLean (Jessie Zhang) and Dean; and Andrew MacLean.

Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5 at Elgin Mills Cemetery and Visitation Centre, 1591 Elgin Mills Road East, Richmond Hill. Funeral service, interment and a reception will follow.