In memory of

Wai Chun Yee 温余惠珍

October 1, 1921 -  January 25, 2021

YEE, Wai Chun (温余惠珍)- What a truly amazing lady. Wai Chun passed away peacefully in her favourite rocking chair in her Toronto home on Jan 25, 2021, at age 99, after a beautiful life filled with the love of her family, the memories of her worldly travels and her personal fulfilments.

Wai Chun was born in Toishan, China on Oct 1, 1921, as the eldest of four, with two younger brothers and one younger sister. She was married to Chun Doo WON when she was 18. They moved to Hong Kong after WWII. Wai Chun is survived by her family: children Wing Kin (Bo Cheung), John (Pauline), Susanna (Stephen), Gary (Suzanne), Tony (Mimi, deceased), Elena (Ray), William (Vivian), Sophia (Stephen); grandchildren Helen (Sam), Eddie (Wilme), Jackson (Cynthia), Joyce (Sherwin), Jason (Cindy), Vincent (Vivian), Kevin (Liz), Michael (Melody), Howard, Tiffany (Patrick), Evelyn, Herman, Christopher, Justin, Jonathan, Brandon; great grandchildren Carolyn, Christopher, Ryan, Kaitlin, Mikayla, Jeremy, Greyson, Zoey, Ella, Marlie, Ava, Aiden, Connor, Joshua. Wai Chun always expressed pride on her biggest accomplishment in life - a simple family of two has flourished into a large family with over 50 members.

Wai Chun and Chun Doo ran a ginseng business in Hong Kong. They always put the interest of their children as their top priority. While living a simple and frugal life, they encouraged and supported all their eight children to build their future in North America, which resulted in all of them either establishing business or pursuing education then professional careers in San Francisco or Toronto. They immigrated to Toronto in 1976 and returned to Hong Kong after the children settled down in school. Wai Chun was heart-broken when her beloved husband passed away in 1984. While bearing the grief and loneliness, she continued to live independently and capably in Hong Kong until she moved for good to Toronto in 1996 to re-unite with her family.

Wai Chun was kind, loving and raised her children in a disciplined manner. She would motivate all her kids to help with sanding, waxing, buffing and shining the hardwood floor at home and rewarded them with their favourite pineapple buns as a treat. She was excellent and skillful with sewing, and a lot of the children's pretty dresses, shirt and short sets and her own elegant chinese long gowns and jackets were handmade. She was a handy multi-talented woman with an engineering mind and fearless attitude. She painted walls, fixed window frames and electrical appliances, soldered loose wires, mended clay pots and shoes, cut hair for the whole family. She would not waste a single rubber-band, a broken nail, a torn piece of cloth, a broken container - she had recycling and green concepts close to a century ago! One time, she fastened herself with a rope and ventured out of the kitchen window to clear a clogged waste water drain outside of the building - from a 7th floor apartment! Super woman! She was amazingly determined! Nothing was impossible!

Wai Chun enjoyed travelling with family and loved nature. She visited many parts of Canada, USA, Hawaii, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Taiwan, some parts of China. We guess her favourite trip to be the 29-people family Caribbean cruise in 2004. At home, she never sat still. She went out to the park every morning to practice "Luk Tung Kuen" and socialized with her friends. She was a dedicated gardener with her indoor and outdoor plants. She grew tomatoes, melons, beans and vegetables every summer and shared harvests with her children and friends. She would try to save any small dying plants and regrow them. Actions speak louder than words in "Green matters"!

We are warmed to know that she has joined her beloved husband in heaven. We are profoundly proud of our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and will miss her gentle, kind and loving spirit.

We invite you to join our family in remembering Wai Chun's life via an online livestreamed service on Saturday February 6, 2021 at 9:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Alzheimer Society of Canada or Mon Sheong Foundation, charities that are close to our family's heart.

Guestbook 

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Becky and Anthony Chan (Friends)

Entered February 3, 2021 from Toronto

Mrs. Wai Chun Won-Yee had indeed lived a wonderful and complete life filled with love. We will always remember her kind and gentle smile and pray that she is now RIP in God’s arms.

Yiu Wing and Josephine (Friend)

Entered February 4, 2021 from Hong Kong

Auntie was so special in many ways . A truly amazing lady will be dearly missed.

Helen Mak (Friend)

Entered February 4, 2021 from Toronto

A truly remarkable lady. May you rest in peace. Regards to the family.祈請節哀.

David Tam (Friend of Elena and Ray.)

Entered February 5, 2021 from Thornhill

May Mrs. Won's soul Rest in Peace!

Christopher Hoi-Lok Won (Grandson)

Entered February 5, 2021

You were an amazing, kind and wonderful grandma and I truly wish that I could have spent more time with you.

Photos 

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