Mary Wing

In October, Mary celebrated her 105th birthday with much joy and fanfare. Her day was filled with close family and friends and plenty of food. She displayed a remarkable alertness and high spirits. Mary appeared to be improving but then started to decline in health. In the early morning of December 25, 2021, Mary Chen Kent Wing passed peacefully in her sleep.

She is survived by her daughters Wanda (William) and Sharon; grandchildren Stephanie, Amanda, Mark, and Jeffery; siblings Kay, Ernie, Sonny, Peter (Rosa); and many nieces and nephews.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband Ken; son-in-law Rob; parents Charles and Toy; siblings Doris, Robert, Wellington. Joe, Noreen, Bessie, Bunny, Louise; and niece Pamela.

She was born on October 17, 1916 in Victoria, B.C. Canada. Her parents, Charles and Toy Kent had 14 children with Mary being the oldest. By the time Mary was 11, her family moved to Vancouver, B.C.

Growing up, Mary learned how to cook from her mother and took home economics (sewing and cooking) in school which helped at home in preparing meals, caring for her younger siblings and working as a seamstress in the family’s clothing factory. She often cooked for her family and baked delectable treats for the many parties her family hosted.

Mary met her husband Kenneth Wing in Vancouver, Canada at a social gathering. They were engaged in December 1, 1951 and were wed on April 25, 1952. The couple decided to make their new home in Seattle, Washington.

Her first job in Seattle was at Frederick & Nelson as a seamstress. The Alterations Department realized how talented Mary was and gave her their more complicated sewing projects.

The couple bought a new home in 1957 and welcomes their daughter Wanda into their lives. A few years later, another daughter Sharon was born. When the children started school, Mary went to work at Van Asselt Elementary in the school cafeteria as a dishwasher. A year later she became a cook and then was promoted to Assistant Manager. This is where she learned to improve her baking skills in making dinner and cinnamon rolls. She proved to be a fantastic baker of cinnamon rolls and every Tuesday morning the lines were always long with faculty and neighborhood cops waiting to buy her rolls.

As years went by, Mary took cake decorating classes and learned baking techniques from books, magazines, and television. She made flowers out of icing to decorate cakes and became an expert at making chocolate eclairs, cream puffs, and fruit tarts. When the family and friends saw Mary’s creative baking artistry, they asked her to bake for their social events.

Mary was always sewing clothes, knitting sweaters and crocheting blankets for family and friends.

Ken and Mary enjoyed traveling and going on road trips with the family. The couple went on a cruise through the Panama Canal, toured the Canadian Provinces, visited Europe, and went to China several times. They shared a long life together and celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. In 2003, Ken quietly passed away at the age of 91.

Mary’s favorite past time was playing Mahjong. As a young girl she learned how to play the game and even at the age of 100 plus she continued to play.

Mary frequently visited her family in Vancouver through the many years of living in Seattle. She loved her huge family and was the happiest when they could all gather for parties and celebrations

Baking was a passion for Mary. She tried to teach family members to bake like her, but the results were mixed and not quite the same. It turns out that baking pies and rolls is more than just following the recipe, it requires knowing your dough by touch and she had the magic touch.

Many people would often ask her. “What is your secret to living a long life?”

Her reply was HAPPINESS!

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 am on June 11th, 2022 at Sunset Hills Funeral Home with reception to follow