Anne Loo (nee Wong)

Anne Wong was born in Vancouver on October 4, 1921. Upon coming into the world, she was so tiny, her father held her in the palm of one hand – prompting her mother to tears, claiming that “this child too, will die!” – for my Grandmother, prior to emigrating to Canada, had lost two infants in China.

Born in Vancouver’s Chinatown, Annie – as she then known - was the eldest of 7 siblings- - a birth order which carried a heavy burden – for at the early age of 8 and a half years, Annie’s job was to walk every Saturday morning, the few blocks west to purchase a week’s worth of groceries for the entire family. She would dutifully carry two heavy shopping bags uphill, to her homes on first, Keefer and later, Union Streets.

Growing up, Annie loved to skip rope, roller skate, and walk the 30 minute walk to Kitsilano beach. One of the highlights of her youth was, at age 18, walking with friends with across the newly opened Lions Gate Bridge in 1939.

As my Grandfather – who came to Canada or Gold Mountain in 1906 – was away for several years, Grandmother waited patiently in China for her fiancé to return. Consequently, Grandmother was considered an Old Maid at the age of 25. This fact made my Grandmother fairly old – according to the standards then – and by the time Uncles Freddie and Jackie – the last of the Wong brothers were born, Grandmother had little time for her two youngest. Annie, at age ten, then took it upon herself to care for her two youngest brothers – sewing identical clothes, bathing, dressing them, generally becoming a surrogate mother for the two boys.

Growing up in Chinatown, the Wong brothers were drawn to the Roman Catholic Church, lured by the gymnasium allowing them to play basketball.

Annie on the other hand, allied with the Anglican Church – Good Shepherd Mission on Keefer- through membership in the Junior Auxiliary, for girls. She would spend most of her years – for Mom was deeply devoted – with that church. She would later marry in the Good Shepherd Mission, spend years organizing and working the Annual Chow Mein Tea, also teaching and serving 25 years as Sunday

School Superintendent. And it was with that church’s Youth Group, in 1939 at the age of 18, that Mom recalls one of the highlights of her youth, walking with her friends walking across the newly completed Lions Gate Bridge.

As 1939 was the same year WW II began, Annie was unable to fulfill her dream of becoming a school teacher, forced to work to help feed the many mouths at home. Her first job entailed sewing on pockets for C. Kent Tailors.

Mom was a raving beauty – a creamy-skinned, rosy cheeked exotic which garnered her many marriage proposals – about one dozen, I believe. I recall, during my late teens, her laughingly advising “Oh Elaine, you don’t marry the first man who asks . . . you will receive dozens of proposals!!” . . . which, for me, was NOT the case.

Work at South Van Produce in the mid 1940’s sealed Annie’s fate as shopkeeper Wing Foon Loo managed to put a ring on her finger. My father Wing however, had a wife and three children in China. My Grandmother, knowing this, made my Dad promise that upon marrying Annie, he honour his first family by continuing to support his Number One Wife and children. . . which, as a man of integrity, he did.

Life at 717 East 7th Avenue and Fraser Street – the tiny, two bedroom bungalow with one bathroom – grew in numbers as Wing, Anne and Linda were joined by Wing’s youngest brother Chuck and Wing’s teenaged sons Cecil and Ted. As I and my younger sister Julia added to the numbers, five of us lived upstairs while “the boys” lived in the basement.

As Chuck was joined by wife May and son Don Loo, Cecil wed Joyce from Hong Kong and Ted became old enough to establish his bachelor pad on Denman – our family of five were able to move to the West side of town to 4397 Brakenridge in 1958.

Life at that 1950’s style split level was busy, as it became the hub for the Loo family. Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Chinese New Years, Birthdays, Weddings, Ordinations – were celebrated in our home. Mom could literally cook Chinese

style for 100 – which she did on more than one occasion – and opened her doors to any of our orphan friends at a moment’s notice. . .

Following her life’s dream of becoming a school teacher – interrupted by WW II - in 1956 Mom, aged 34, enrolled in courses by correspondence followed by years of night school at King Edward High. Finally nearly a decade had passed until, at the age of 42, she had enough credits to qualify as a full time student at UBC. She would be at her desk by 6:30 am, study, pack our school lunches, head out the door for a full day of classes, return before 6 pm, take off her coat, throw on an apron, and begin cooking supper. We learned to not interfere as our questions would be answered with a curt “Don’t talk to me, I’m cooking.” Within the hour we would be dining on a full five course Chinese dinner. And to add to the wonder, she never knew what she would be cooking that evening – it depended upon the contents of the cardboard apple box Dad trundled home every night.

And Mom never used a recipe. At age 16, having taking Home Economics throughout high school, I felt it was time for my Mom to learn how to cook “properly.” I purchased a small Chinese recipe book which Mom politely used once then quietly put away – to be never opened again.

As High School graduation neared, my greatest fear was that I would land up on campus at the same time as my Mom. To my great relief, she graduated Spring of 1967 as I enrolled Fall of ’67. . . huge sigh.

Anne taught throughout the Lower Mainland as a substitute teacher – occasionally landing up in schools attended by nieces and nephew – eventually landing up at Strathcona Elementary in Chinatown as an ESL – English as a Second Language - teacher. Upon retirement from the Vancouver School Board, Mom continued to teach privately, her skill at teaching English to Chinese immigrants, spreading through word of mouth. Her clients treated her royally, bestowing Mom with gifts, taking she and Dad to dim sum, inviting them to weddings, Christenings.

Anne’s creativity went beyond the kitchen as Chairperson of the Chinese Cultural Centre’s Women’s Committee. It was her brainchild to conduct tours of Chinatown – guiding tour groups into historic Chinese clan associations and

society buildings, import shops, ethnic grocery stores, restaurants culminating in a Chinese lunch. As this was her idea, Mom provided our telephone as the contact number. The phone rang incessantly to the point where Dad refused to answer the phone. Once while Mom was in hospital, desperate to talk to Dad who would never pick up the phone, Linda drove all the way from her home on Wall Street – by the PNE – to Brakenridge in order to talk to her father.

Throughout her life, Mom suffered from bipolar disorder, fluctuating between mania and depression. When she was well, she was a formidable force. When not well, the curtains would be drawn and she would be in bed, up for the basic essentials of running a load of laundry or making meals. Otherwise you would not see her. Despite this major handicap, Mom never complained. She never used her mental illness as an excuse. She would rally, get back on her feet, eyes forward and determinedly forge ahead. One Spring, returning from hospital in a weakened state, she planted geraniums by crawling on her hands and knees. And our husbands wonder why we three are so stubbornly determined . . .

Following Dad’s death in 1999, Mom plummeted into depression, spending weekends with Linda and Steve who would send her home with care packages of food for the following week. Soon they realized that Mom needed to live with them so the house on Brakenridge was sold and in 2001 Linda, Steve and Mom moved into 6438 Elm Street. And along with the move came the tradition of this address - aka The Elm Street B & B - hub of Loo Clan hospitality.

Climbing the 14 steps between the basement where Mom slept to the living and kitchen floors above kept Mom hale and hearty along with Tai Chi at Brock House, Chinese Cultural Centre, church, annual canvassing for the Heart and Stroke, three times a week visits to the ASK Friendship Centre, the Vancouver Senior’s Advisory Committee to name a few.

Until Mom fell and broke her hip November 2019, initiating the need for around the clock care, Mom was a productive, contributing member of the Elm Street Gang, fetching mail, setting the table, serving as sous chef - and most importantly, sharing her bed with family cat Jonesy, both luxuriating in long afternoon naps.

It was initially, with great sadness that we moved Mom to Windermere Care Centre. The staff were so genuinely caring, we soon realized that Anne was in the best possible of places. With personal caregiver Elsa Alerta by her side, Mom

thrived, happy to participate in mah jong, cards, crafts, weekly outings, clapping and singing along with visiting musicians . . . indulging in dessert served twice daily!!

On Monday, August 17th around noon, Anne, pale-faced, complained of not feeling well. She was given oxygen where she rallied as her colour improved. At 5:00 she cheerfully asked for her dinner, and by 5:35 her heart stopped.

The Chinese would say that Anne died a “smiling” death – for she never suffered. She departed swiftly, gracefully, painlessly. The legacy she leaves behind is huge, for we will indeed, take comfort in knowing that our lives have been enriched by having shared her boundless love.