Mr. Kwok Chung Wong

Kwok Chung Wong, our Dad, passed away in Vancouver General Hospital on October 15, 2018. He began his life in Lok Ping, Guangdong, China, in 1930. No, ‘1930’ is not a typo. Sometimes dates and names get messed up for immigrants to Canada. His documents say ‘1934’ but, really, he was born in 1930.

Dad was a young boy when Japan invaded China in 1937. At the age of 9 years, he became separated from family in the confusion of the war. He survived that time by going through garbage looking for food. He even said at one point he carried a gun for safety. Dad never spoke much about those times as he found it hard to tell us about it. It was easier to speak to strangers about it than to his loved ones.

He immigrated to Canada in 1952. He took training as an orthopedic shoemaker at the former Vancouver Technical School and opened up the Broadway Shoe Renu at Broadway and Alma. He eventually sold the business and trained as a Cordon Bleu chef. Dad was the head chef at Trader Vic’s at the Westin Bayshore Hotel for 9 years in the 1960s.

In 1961, life changed dramatically for Dad when he married Hou Wah, our Mom. Sometime earlier, while visiting a friend, Grandfather was shown some wedding pictures from Hong Kong. In them was the bride’s younger sister. Grandfather inquired if the young lady might be interested in his son, Kwok Chung. A picture of Dad was sent, Mom came to visit and they found themselves compatible. Wedding bells soon followed.

In 1971, Dad went into business for himself, opening the Marine Heights Restaurant on SE Marine Drive near Fraser St. It was a Chinese restaurant with a seating capacity of 200 people. He built up the business and sold it for a profit 5 years later. He then went to work at Denman Place and the Three Greenhorns restaurants for a while until he noticed a small restaurant in a good location and at a good price. He purchased the business, built it up and sold it at a profit a few years later. This successful formula was repeated again with a 3rd restaurant before Dad retired from the restaurant business.

Retirement meant devoting time to his beloved vegetable garden…traveling to China twice (in 1990 to see his birthplace after an absence of over 40 years from his home country and then again in 2005 to see the Great Wall and other well known sites)…enjoying his grandchildren.

In 2009, an aortic aneurysm was discovered in time and a stent inserted. Life again changed and Dad began to slow down. He was still active in the garden and kitchen but gradually, kidney problems meant more visits to doctors. Just over 3 weeks ago, Dad was brought to VGH where it was confirmed he had a failing liver. Mom, us kids and grandkids, we miss our Dad and Grandfather. There is finally fruit this year on the persimmon tree in the garden. The persimmon seedling was found growing in a compost pile 3 years ago. The fruit are ripening now but he is no longer here to harvest and enjoy them.

Kwok Chung Wong was 88 years old when he left us. He is loved and remembered by his wife of 57 years, Hou Wah; his 3 children Flora (James), Laura (Bernie) and Eddie (Ruth); and grandchildren Taylor, Madi, Clark, Clara and Anya.