Mrs. Yit Kiew Liaw

Yit Kiew Liaw was born in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia on March 22, 1936 to Kee Chong Chan, a fitter for the Shell Company, and Hoo Kang Chan. She spent her early childhood in Miri, before moving to Seria in her teens where she would meet her future husband, Thian Fook Liaw. In 1956, they were wed and began what would be a long and enduring marriage. Soon after, they welcomed their first child into the world with four more to follow. By the mid-1960s, she was a mother of five, responsible for all the cleaning and cooking in the household. Running a home was not an easy task – a typical day involved preparing three meals, washing the laundry, tending to the livestock and garden, and cleaning the house. Weekends were spent at the market, haggling over groceries in Malay.

Even after making the trek from Brunei to Canada with her family, she continued to carry out the daily tasks she had done back home. While the tasks remained the same, some things changed: swapping out children for grandchildren, buying groceries in Chinatown rather than the wet markets of Brunei. Fortunately, she would no longer have to tend to livestock. Yit Kiew was a loving and caring grandmother to her grandchildren, cooking delicious meals for them everyday well into her 70s. After “retiring” from cooking, she spent her time taking care of her husband and spending valuable time with her children and grandchildren.

Yit Kiew was the quintessential matriarch. From the age of 21 until her 70s, she cooked, cleaned, washed, shopped through thick and thin, all without complaint. She took care of two generations, nurturing and nourishing them not only with nutrients but also with love. She was an utterly devoted and faithful wife of nearly 65 years to her husband. After his strokes, she continued to take care of him, staying by his side until the very end. They enjoyed an enduring and loving marriage, singing karaoke together, going on walks, and enjoying the flowers in the garden. Yit Kiew also traveled extensively with her family, returning to Brunei and Malaysia. Other trips included China, Hong Kong, various places in the United States (the Oregon coast, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, New York City, and Washington DC) The love she had for her husband, children, and grandchildren was limitless.

Yit Kiew will be lovingly remembered by her devoted children, James Khin Liong (Lillian), Ricky Khin Law (Diane), David Khin Lin (Jessie), Khing Sang and Yvonne Yun Chin (Allen), and her six grandchildren: Chris and Nicholas (James and Lillian), Alex and Michelle (Ricky and Diane), and Brendan and Isabel (David and Jessie). She will also be remembered by her three sisters and numerous nephews and nieces. She is predeceased by her husband, brother, and sister. We cherish the numerous memories, trips, delicious meals, laughs and love we had the joy of sharing with her. We will miss her kindness and compassion, her smile, and most of all, her mouth-watering cooking.

A Funeral Service in memory of Yit Kiew will be held on Thursday, April 13 at 10:00 am at Forest Lawn Chapel, 3789 Royal Oak Ave, Burnaby, BC. The interment will follow in the adjoining cemetery. There will also be a viewing on Tuesday, April 12 from 4:30 – 6:30 pm at the Forest Lawn Chapel for those who wish to attend.

Family and friends are invited to a lunch reception at Joyful Seafood Restaurant, #150 – 5665 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC at 12:30 pm, following the service.

A life so well-lived ought to be remembered well. We hope you will join us in celebrating the life of Yit Kiew Liaw