Kenneth Kam-Chin Suen

Kenneth (Ken) Kam Chin Suen passed away peacefully in Vancouver General Hospital on December 13, 2024. A family man and loving husband and father, he is survived by his wife, Windy Kit Wah Suen (nee Chin), daughter, Dr. Wilma Wai Man Suen, half siblings, Kam Shang, wife Siu Mui Au; Sau Kuen, husband, Kai Shun Lam; Kam Hei, wife, Yuet Wah Chau; Kam Chau; Danny Kam Wing, wife, Connie Yuk Mui; Kam Fu, wife, Hung Ying Wong; and Sau Mui, husband, Kam Chiu Wong; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Born on 7 October 1933 in Hong Kong to father, Hin Kwai Suen and mother, Lin Yau Leung, Ken along with his mother and siblings were sent to the family’s ancestral home in Zhong Shan by his father during the Japanese invasion of China. His mother, however, died in a cholera outbreak and Ken and his oldest brother, Kam Yue, then went back to Hong Kong to live with his father and stepmother, Mo Chun Suen (nee Ho).

After finishing high school in Hong Kong, Ken received his Ordinary Certificate in Mechanical Engineering from Hong Kong Technical College in 1962. In the next year, he received the City & Guilds of London Institute Certificate for Intermediate level in Mechanical Engineering Design. In the same year, he married his wife whom he met in high school. He taught high school, serviced aircraft, and ran his own business in Hong Kong for a while. Both then decided to move to Canada in 1968.

Despite his education and qualifications, Ken started out delivering pizza in Vancouver until he secured a position as a hydraulic mechanic, a career that lasted until his retirement. Throughout his career, he was involved in major projects such as oil/gas development in Inuvik, NWT, the Knight Street bridge, and the Alex Fraser bridge. When major clients of the company such as BC Ferries and Western Pulp needed somebody, they often asked for him by name because he was a hard worker and, importantly in his line of work, a problem solver. His work was always of the highest quality, meticulous, and efficient.

Both Ken and Windy loved to travel, making an epic drive down the coast to San Diego in 1971. While their busy work schedules and family obligations later limited this interest of theirs, they traveled extensively around the globe after their retirement to places such as China, Thailand, France, Germany, the UK, Cuba among others, and, of course, North America. In later years, Ken was highly active as a volunteer with the Kidney Foundation’s local group in Vancouver. A kind and generous man, he will be missed by all.

Ken’s funeral will be held on Friday, February 7, at 1:30 p.m. at the Chapel at the Ocean View Funeral Home (4000 Imperial Street, Burnaby, B.C.), followed by entombment at the South Mausoleum. A viewing will be held on Thursday, February 6, between 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Kidney Foundation of Canada (https://kidney.ca/)