Edith Wong

黄賽兼

September 25, 1930 - September 13, 2026

Edith was born in Hong Kong to her parents HO, Ka Chi and HO (LIU),Yuk Ting, and was the 3rd of 6 children.

Her father was a school administrator and the family valued education. She went to girl’s school in her youth before pursuing her nursing degree in Hong Kong, and immigrated in the early 1950’s to Ottawa to complete her Masters in Nursing. She lived in Ottawa and Montreal before moving to Northern BC to take a position as a public health nurse. It was in BC where she met her husband Sam.

Sam and Edith were married at the Salvation Army South Vancouver Corps in 1963. They were married for 62 years, and were the foundation for a family that loved Jesus. Edith was a deeply faithful woman, with quiet Bible studies, times of prayer, and hymns being close to her heart. She continued to take part in small group Bible studies well into her 80’s and 90’s. Edith was heavily involved in the Salvation Army, including years of volunteering at Southmount Corps in every behind the scenes role that existed.

Edith’s nursing career continued in Vancouver, including decades spent at Mount Saint Joseph Hospital. She started a family of clinicians, with her son and grandson following her into becoming healthcare practitioners. Edith was not just a nurse by trade, she was a deeply innate caregiver, caring for her patients, family, friends, church community, or even strangers as if it was her purpose on earth.

She loved to host at her South Vancouver house, opening up her home to newcomers to Vancouver or simply being the meeting place for holidays with family and friends. She showed love through food, and was famous for her Cantonese chow mein and red jell-o jigglers, a satisfying if surprising combination.

Edith integrated her Cantonese upbringing into her Canadian life. She loved Yum Cha with her friends, sitting in bustling, noisy Chinese restaurants while socializing over green tea. She would bring her family a box of bao’s every time she saw them. She loved to read the local newspapers, Sing Tao or Ming Pao. Her most worn down Bible was one translated in Chinese. She was the honoured figure of her grandson’s Wedding Chinese Tea Ceremony.

Edith’s family was her great priority in life, and where she continued to be the eternal caregiver. She was a loving and faithful wife to Sam, creating a home that they both thrived in. When Sam was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and moved into a long-term care facility, a devoted Edith, at that point in her 90’s, would take the #41 bus to go and spend time with him before he ultimately passed in 2025. She dedicated her post-retirement life to her daughter, Roxanne, who she shared a special bond with. Edith was one of the few people Roxy could communicate with once her Niemann-Pick progressed, and she ultimately passed away from the neurodegenerative disease in 2018. Edith supported her son, Ed, in his musical endeavours, which she loved listening to, even though she wasn’t sure where he picked up the musical gene from. She loved to spend time with her grandchildren, Brody and Jaren, playing with them at Science World and having basement sleepovers in their younger years, and later as they became adults visiting them at UBC, having weekly phone calls, and taking them for dim sum. She was filled with joy to see her great grandson, Seth, be born in the final weeks of her life, leaving him with a blessing to follow God.

Edith is lovingly remembered by her son Edmund (Laura) with grandsons Jaren (Anlai) and Brody (Lisa) with great grandson Seth.

A viewing and visitation will be held on September 30th with open visitation hours of 10:00am-11:30am at Vancouver Memorial Services (5505 Fraser Street, Vancouver, BC V5W2Z3).

Edith’s memorial service will be held on a later date in November at The Salvation Army Southmount Citadel (3403 E. 49 Ave, Vancouver, BC V5S 1M1).