It is with great sadness that the family of Kiun Yee (Henry) Lim Soo announces his passing on Tuesday, October 27th, 2020, after a long battle with leukemia. Henry was 80 years old. He was the beloved husband of Marie Claude for 51 years, and a devoted father to Sandra, Patrick, and Derek. He was the adored grandfather of Julia, Isabella, Emilia, and Noah, and a kind father-in-law to Emily and Vanessa. Henry also leaves behind his sister Mrs. Therese Chan Kwen Chian, sister-in-law Anne Lim Kim Yee, many nieces and nephews as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews.
Born on the tropical island of Mauritius, Henry was the youngest of seven siblings. His father traveled extensively for the family business, an interest that Henry inherited, leading him to leave home at the young age of 16 to live abroad and study in London, England. Always a dedicated worker with a brilliant intellect, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science with Honours in sociology from the University of London. It was in the UK that Henry met his beautiful wife Marie Claude at a party one night, and offered to walk her home. That evening was the beginning of a long and loving partnership filled with many adventures, including a journey across the Atlantic to start a new life in Montreal, Quebec.
In Montreal, Henry worked as a librarian at McGill University for nearly four decades, devoting his time to helping students with their research until his retirement. He was an indispensable friend to many a graduate student over the years, with his name appearing frequently in several thesis acknowledgements. A popular and easily spotted figure at McGill’s Physical Sciences and Engineering library, Henry always wore sharp shirts and ties to work every day, something he took pride in. It was an even greater source of pride for him that both his sons, Patrick and Derek, eventually graduated from the university he loved so much.
Henry had a lifelong love of learning, a passion that made him a voracious reader of hundreds—if not thousands—of books ranging in subject from the classics, biographies, and travel, to China, business, and poetry. He also loved to read books in both French and English, and had a great interest in other cultures. Henry loved to travel, and with his family made the trek to every continent in the world except for Antarctica, and visited more than 40 countries. He enjoyed ballroom dancing and often went out dancing with Marie Claude on Saturday nights or danced in the comforts of the living room at home. Henry was always the epitome of a gentleman – a polite, well-read, well-spoken, courteous, and honourable individual. A wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Henry will be missed dearly by all who knew him.
“A gentleman is one who puts more into the world than he takes out.”
-George Bernard Shaw
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a small private service will be held. Those who so desire may make donations in Henry’s memory to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC). https://bit.ly/3247Dwo (LLSC donor portal)
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