Yook Woo Chow

Yook was born at Hoy Sah Lay village in Hoy Ping District, Guangdong, China. As a girl in rural China, she was privileged to graduate high school before courageously travelling alone to Hong Kong during the aftermath of war to study English before emigrating to marry Frank N.F. Chow of Union Grocery & Confectionery in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. On top of learning a new language and culture, Yook helped run the store and raise six children while also participating in the Chinese United Church Women's Auxiliary and the Chinese Association. She was a trailblazer who used her earnings from CanaDays Apparel to buy her own car to fuel her independence and to serve her family and friends. After Frank passed away in 1982, Yook was a strong sole parent to her two youngest children still at home as she boldly continued to operate the store until she finally retired in 1991.

Yook was known for her outgoing personality, strong work ethic, keen intelligence, radiant smile, and stylish glamour, as well as for the abundant vegetable crops she joyfully shared with family, friends, and restaurants. One of her priorities was to nurture relationships with her extended families and friends around the world. She showed her love by mastering Chinese gourmet dishes, soups, and pastries for her devoted family and delighted friends. She was perhaps at her happiest when preparing special soups or teaching the next generation how to make dumplings and desserts.

Yook was predeceased by her husband Frank N.F. Chow; her parents William M.C. and Wai-Lin (Quan) Wong; her older brother Jimmy Y.C. Wong Chan; her younger brother Chung Kin (Ann) Wong; and an older sister.

Yook is survived by her children, Pauline (Bill) Eng, Susan (Verlin) Gwin, Lillian (Paul Scothorn), Betty (Ron Lowe), Barbara and Robert; her grandchildren, Jeremy (Elyse) Eng, Brittani (Joshua) Rozon, Morgan Gwin (Andre Masse), Benjamin (Sarah) Gwin, Jonathan & Erin Scothorn, and Lauren Lowe; her great-grandchildren, Eva & Charlotte Eng, Renee & Connor Masse, and Caleb Gwin; and her nieces and nephews, Janice, Kenny & Victor (Linley) Chan, Kim (Roy) White, Belinda (William) Chan, Victoria Wong (Jimmy Cheung), David (Rhiannon) Wong, and Andrew Wong. Yook is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Yook’s family wishes to thank her team at Rockyview General Hospital and especially Nurse Alex for her exceptionally compassionate care.

A Funeral Service will be held at W.J. Jones & Son Funeral Home, 474 Hochelaga Street West, Moose Jaw, SK on Friday, October 2, 2026, at 1:30 p.m., with visitation from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Those who are unable to attend in person can view the service by clicking the link via Zoom. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9827558167?omn=85973841342 Please be in the waiting room PRIOR to 1:20 pm Saskatchewan time.

Interment at Rosedale Cemetery will follow immediately after the service.

This obituary has been authorized by the family for posting on Foster’s Garden Chapel Funeral Home’s website. As such, it is protected against any form of reproduction or redistribution without prior consent from the family.