Suet Ching Wong

Born in Toi Shun, China on December 25, 1931, Ching (her preferred name) was a sister, wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, talented seamstress, embroiderer, arbitrator, keeper of the peace, the centre of the family, gardener, and a landlord. There were many roles that she not only took on, but excelled at.

At some point, Ching married Moo Wong, whose father emigrated to the Golden Mountain (Canada) following in the footsteps of his father, leaving Ching in Hong Kong. After settling in Canada, Moo went back to Hong Kong and they had their first-born son, Kin, in late 1956.

Moo returned to Calgary to make a living as a cook. Ching and her first son emigrated to Canada around 1958. After a few years of settling down and working, Ching and Moo expanded the family. Between children, Ching worked various jobs including Rosedale Cleaners and White Ram Knitting while grandma took care of the house.

Ching and Moo eventually bought a house on top of the hill in Crescent Heights and have lived there ever since. Around 1976, the family moved temporarily for 1 year while the family home was rebuilt. Even spending the last few years in a seniors home, Mom still considers this house her home.

Ching is a survivor. Ching lived through the Great depression, the Japanese invasion, a World War and left family and friends in search of a better life for her family. Ching was born the same year that the Japanese invaded Manchuria. The conflict expanded and merged with World War II in 1941. Refugees fled to Hong Kong and the border officially closed in 1952. From Hong Kong, Ching emigrated across the ocean to a new society accompanied with a new language and culture, building a large family while working low paying jobs, providing and raising a large family the best she could. Later in life Mom endured two separate falls that resulted in broken hips, another that caused a hematoma on her head, and the latest, a fall that fractured a vertebra in her neck. Above all, she was proud of the family. She always carried photographs of her children and grandchildren in her wallet. With limited English, she managed to talk to people and has surprised her family that these strangers to us, know who we are and what we do.

The top things that were really important to Mom were family harmony and celebration (food & culture), education, quality (doing a good job), looking presentable, being frugal but fair and the circle of life.

As with any large family, there are usually more opinions than there are people, Mom was a good arbitrator. Mom made sure that our birthdays and traditional holidays were celebrated as a family with good food. She tried to instill in us the importance of culture.

Education was important to Mom, she wanted us to have something that she did not growing up. To her education was the key to success.

Mom liked quality, a job done with good durable materials, look and worked well. You can see that in the family home, brick exterior, concrete tile roof, hardwood and tile floors.

Mom wanted us to look presentable, she made all our clothes, better fitting and higher quality than store bought; she gave us haircuts, even construction clothes should not have holes.

Mom never drove but was able to use what was accessible. She was frugal but fair in dealing with people. It is hard to imagine all the things our parents managed to accomplish without a vehicle.

Mom believed in the circle of life and wanted us to have our own families and helped those that were not as capable. She recognized it takes a lot of energy and money to raise a family.

“We all love you and will miss you. May you rest in peace and may we all continue to make you proud.”

Ching is survived by seven devoted children: sons Kin (Janet Leong), Kenny (Yam Yi Feng), Eddy, and Dave (Natalie Nicholson); and daughters Dixie (Jim So), Linda (Kevin Chan), and Shirley (Dennis Low). Ching also leaves behind thirteen beloved grandchildren: Stephen Wong (Carrie MacDermott), Scott Wong, Spencer Wong, Peter Wong, Michael Wong, Daisy Wong, Chelsea So (Christopher Lee), Jonathan So, Alexander So (Nina Nguyen), Lawrence Chan, Lorilei Chan (Howard Kong), Lathan Chan and Justin Low.

Ching was predeceased by her husband Moo in 2015.

Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life held at Foster’s Garden Chapel, 3220 – 4 Street N.W., Calgary (across from Queen’s Park Cemetery) on Thursday September 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. Interment to follow at Queen’s Park Cemetery.

The family would like to express their thanks for the excellent care provided by the lovely and caring staff at Wing Kei Crescent Heights, 2nd floor and 3rd floor.

They would also like to express their deepest gratitude for all the condolences and offers of support given to the family during this difficult time.