Barry Shut Sang Seto

VANCOUVER – Beloved husband, father and grandfather Barry Seto passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 55 years, Gaye, son Felix (Candace), daughter Loretta (Peter), Stella (Igor), and three grandchildren, Quincy, Evelina, and Malcolm.

Barry was born on October 29, 1933 (Lunar calendar) in Hoy Ping, Guangdong Province, China, the 2nd oldest among 8 siblings. He immigrated to Canada in 1951 at the age of 17, and worked first in Victoria, BC, before moving to Vancouver where he made his home for the rest of his life. He and Gaye married in 1970 and had three children who all still reside in Vancouver.

Always a hard worker, Barry was proud to have been the first person of Chinese heritage to work for the Vancouver Parks Board. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Physics at the University of British Columbia in 1973 at age 39, the same year he became a father for the first time. Soon thereafter, he began working at Mircrotel as a telecommunications technician, and stayed with the company through its various incarnations (finally Nortel) until he retired in 1999.

A devoted family man, Barry spent his time ensuring his children were well educated, teaching them invaluable life lessons in his quiet and humble way. He never forgot his roots, sponsoring the immigration of his sister Mei, mother Xing Qun, and brother Disheng to Canada, and regularly sending money over the years to help his siblings and their children who remained in China.

In his retirement years, Barry and Gaye travelled the world, visiting numerous countries over five continents including Asia, Australia, Europe, and North and South America. Some highlights included visiting Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines in Peru, riding camels in Xinjiang Province in China, viewing Komodo dragons in Indonesia, and swimming in the Baltic Sea in Sweden.

Barry was a man of few words, but immeasurable depths. He had a sense of humour with a big laugh, especially when he heard a good joke. He was a skilled handyman, able to repair anything from broken radios and lawnmowers to leaking faucets to faulty electrical lights. A lover of classical music both Western and Chinese, he also enjoyed reading extensively and staying current on world events through various newspapers. He always appreciated a good meal (one of his favourites was roasted rack of lamb) and a nice glass of wine.

Barry will be remembered for his kind heart, quiet strength, and steady love and wisdom he always provided. He will be deeply missed by his family and forever live in our hearts.

A visitation will be held from 7:00 - 9:00 PM, Sunday, March 22, and the funeral service will be held from 1:00 - 3:30 PM, Monday, March 23, both at Ocean View Funeral Home.

A dinner reception will immediately follow at Neptune Chinese Seafood Restaurant (6200 McKay Avenue, Station Square Metrotown, Burnaby).

Flowers may be sent to Ocean View Funeral Home (4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, BC). Alternatively, donations may be made to the Canadian Red Cross.