Maung Hla

Saw Maung Hla (a.k.a Pu B1), 93, (January 01, 1931 – February 17, 2024) of Kaw Thoo Lei origin (Burma, Karen ethnic) passed away on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 1:26 AM local time in Toronto, Ontario at old age.

Maung Hla was the youngest of 3 siblings and like other young boys of his generation, he attended traditional schooling in his village monastery. In 1955, at the age of 24, he married his wife, Naw Mu Yeh Peh and they bore 7 children together but only 4 survived, 3 sons and 1 daughter. He grew up in Brigade 1 in Kaw Thoo Lei during the Karen revolution and he proudly served in the military service during the civil war era in 1960s-70s. After he tragically lost his beloved wife in 1970, he decided to leave his hometown where he resettled in a different village called Du Preh Kyo village, located in Brigade 5 in Kaw Thoo Lei.

Once again in 1971, he fled from Brigade 5 and started a new life as an agricultural worker (sugar cane and banana plantations) in the bank of Salween River, Koh Law Tah village in Thailand- Myanmar border. He then expanded his business as a boat builder and a fisherman. In 1995, he sought refugee at Klo Pah/Ooh Dah Refugee Camp in Thailand where he made a living by raising livestock and as a blacksmith. Additionally, he was famously known as a healer, who used syringes for vitamin B1 injections, herbal medicines to treat wound infections, and other traditional medications for pain control treatments. He also provided care for many former Karen soldiers with physical disabilities who were survivors from landmines and war injuries. Because of his good deeds to others, he was loved and adored by many of his former patients and community friends.

In 1995, his family relocated in Mae Khong Khan refugee camp, and they later were relocated to Mae La Oon Refugee Camp in 2004. He resettled in Canada in 2009 and stayed in Toronto until his last breath. He was a highly independent man who worked hard to provide for himself and others. He primarily supported himself with little to no support from his children. Due to the language barrier and other social factors after he moved to Canada at his early 80s, his eldest son’s family (including his daughter in-law and grandchildren) became his main caregivers.

In 2014, he suffered from a major stroke yet he miraculously alive with no mobility challenges. However, after witnessing his son’s death 2022, his health began to decline where he was bedridden for the whole year from March 2023. On February 17th, 2024, he passed away peacefully at old age at family residence in Toronto. He was surrounded by grandchildren and daughter-in-law at time of his death. He was blessed with a long and healthy life until his old age. He is survived by his son, daughter, 3 daughter in-laws along with 13 grandchildren and 19 great grand children.

His funeral service will be held at Delmoro Funeral Home (61 Beverly Hill Dr. Toronto ON M3L 1A2) on Saturday, February 24th, 2022, at 11:00 AM. There will be visitation at the same location beginning at 10:00 AM. His family will be present to welcome his loved ones and friends for the final goodbye.