Born on August 16, 1926, in Pakse, Laos, Paihok lived a life full of humour, love, and determination. He did not receive formal education, but anyone who knew him would tell you he was one of the sharpest minds they ever met. Paihok’s relentless pursuit of perfection, whether it was teaching himself Chinese, mastering Abacus, or "fixing" a brand-new coffee table, was both admirable and, at times, amusingly exasperating.

Before emigrating to Canada, Paihok managed an automotive parts store in Pakse. During his down time at work, he would be teaching his children Abacus. Once in Canada, he worked as a forklift operator until his retirement in 1991. Even after retiring, Paihok never stopped learning. He was a man who could teach himself anything. He loved to build things with his hands, though his family often joked that once Paihok had a hammer and drill in hand, no piece of furniture was safe from his "improvements." Paihok loved reading and collecting recipes. Always having an opinion in how things should be done or acting more like the culinary director despite hardly ever being the chef.

Tea was another passion of his, particularly Iron Goddess tea. His taste buds were so discerning that he would bring his own tea leaves to dim sum, never settling for anything less than perfect.

Paihok was a man of great intelligence and integrity, but more than that, he was a man of great heart. His meticulous nature extended to every part of his life, including the love and care he showed for his family. His home filing system was the stuff of legend, as organized as a library. Everything had its place, just like every person in Paihok’s life had theirs in his heart.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Hong Sum; his children, Samuel Sum (Rattana), James Sum (Susanna Yip), Bruce Sum (Helen Chiu), Tiffany Sum (Calvin Pan), William Sum (Angela), Jeffrey Sum (Rosia Truan), Stephanie Norman (Christopher); and his thirteen grandchildren, Danielle, Aaron, Oliver, Declan, Cassidy, Winston, Julia, Kylie, Evan, Emery, Rebecca, Jaida, and last but certainly not least, Maiya. Paihok also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and his Godson, Simon Chang, along with Simon’s family, Sisamone, Nelson and Andrew, whom he loved as his own. He was preceded in death by his parents, Di Shan Shen and Jen Chen, and his siblings, Lan Jiao Shen and Hui Shen.

Paihok’s presence will be missed more than words can express, but his humour, his wisdom, and his legacy will live on in the countless stories and memories shared by those who loved him.

A celebration of Paihok’s life will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024, at 1:00 PM at Elgin Mills Cemetery in Richmond Hill, Ontario.