Lan Tai da Roza, née Cho, passed away peacefully at the age of 86, with Teresa, Mario and family by her side, while her other children joined online.
Born in Shanghai, she moved to Hong Kong in 1949 and immigrated to Canada in 1992. She travelled widely throughout her life, visiting countries across Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and the Caribbean. Wherever she went, she made a point of visiting the local wet market to see what people ate, what was available and how the prices compared.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband Deniz, and her son-in-law Albert, Teresa’s husband. She is survived by her children Anne Marie and Johnny; Peter and Sheren; Paula; Teresa; and Mario and Lisa; her grandchildren Jonathan and Katie, Jacqueline and Jimmy, Ana Maria, Ricardo, Andre, Anton, Inez and Zelia; her great-grandson Jackson; and her three younger sisters in Hong Kong. She was blessed to see her family grow across four generations.
Family was at the centre of Mom’s life. When Dad worked in Macau, she raised the children in Hong Kong largely on her own. After his death in 1981, she became both Mom and Dad to the family. Years later, when her own mother became ill, Mom returned to Hong Kong and spent four months caring for her day and night until the end.
Mom was direct, responsible and loyal. Despite the difficult changes in her life, she remained resolute in her principles and deeply committed to her family.
Food was one of the ways she showed her love. She loved cooking, trying new recipes and enjoying good food, especially Northern Chinese dishes, dumplings, spicy food and seafood. She was particular about her morning routine of the radio, newspaper and 鴛鴦 (yuen yeung), a Hong Kong-style mix of coffee and milk tea. She also loved 老婆餅, a flaky Chinese pastry with a sweet winter-melon filling, and 蛋撻 (egg tarts).
She enjoyed low-stakes mahjong with friends and occasional trips to Fallsview, Woodbine and Casino Rama.
Some of her happiest times were spent with her children and grandchildren, sharing meals, telling stories and simply being together.
We give thanks for her life, for the family she built, and for the time we were blessed to share with her.
Before she passed, I told her that when we pray, that is when we meet.
And so we will keep meeting.
Thank you, Mom, for everything you gave us.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Mom’s memory by visiting the donation page.