Hock-Wah Gan

Hock-Wah (Howard) Gan passed away on April 27, 2025, in Montreal. Predeceased by his beloved parents, Gan Ong Chin and Luah Tham, and his brother Hock Su. He is deeply missed by his wife Grace, his daughters Jeanne, Suzan (Brian Lau), and Emily (Daniel Schachter), his grandchildren Cassidy and Nolan, his brothers Hock Teck, Hop Keen, Hock Tee; his sisters Sew Ten and Ah Beng, his thirty nieces and nephews, and countless other cherished family members and friends around the world.

Howard was in his 80th year, just shy of his and Grace’s 50th wedding anniversary.

For decades, he was co-owner of a small tax software company and was among the founding members of the Montreal Chinese Mandarin School.

Born and raised in a kampung in Malaysia into a family of rubber tappers and farmers, Howard faced extraordinary challenges from a young age, including undergoing his first open-heart surgery as a teenager. This early test of resilience became a defining trait throughout his life.

His health struggles opened the door to education. Unable to work alongside his family on the plantation, Howard fought to stay in school and became the first in his family to attend university. His studies took him from Nanyang University in Singapore to the University of Saskatchewan in 1970, and later to McGill University in Montreal, where he met Grace. They married six months after their first date and built a life together grounded in loyalty, love, and quiet perseverance.

Howard was a botanist at heart, and his green thumb was legendary—everything he touched seemed to thrive. He had a deep appreciation for his heritage, for nature, and for the beauty in everyday life. He loved to sing, and he loved a good joke. We will always remember his warmth, his smile, and his contagious laugh.

The family extends heartfelt thanks to the dedicated staff at Manoir de l'âge d'or CHSLD for their compassionate and attentive care, and to the palliative team at Hôpital Notre-Dame for bringing him comfort and peace in his final days.

A viewing will be held with the family on Sunday May 18 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Côte-des-Neiges funeral home, located at 4525 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, QC, H3V 1E7.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the following organizations: Heart & Stroke, Alzheimer Society of Montreal and NOVA West Island

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顏福華於2025年4月27日在蒙特婁辭世。

他摯愛的父母顏旺清，與賴㚵，以及兄長顏福樹早已先他而去。他的離世令妻子曉明、女兒淑瑾、淑臻（家傑）與淑毅（Daniel Schachter）、外孫女佳穎與外孫秉成、兄弟福德、福根、福池、姊妹秀珍與秀敏、和三十位姪兒們，以及遍布世界各地的至親好友，無限懷念。

福華享壽八十歲，今年即將與妻子曉明迎來五十週年結婚紀念。

多年來，他和好友創辦一家報稅軟體公司，聞名業界相當成功。同時也是蒙城中華語文學校的創校人之一。

福華出生於馬來西亞一個以割膠為業的小鄕村中長大。自幼便面臨諸多挑戰。少年時期，他接受了第一次心臟手術，在當時屬於極為罕見與創新的醫療技術。這場早期的考驗鍛鍊出他堅毅不屈的生命特質，並伴隨他一生。

由於健康因素無法與家人一同在樹膠園勞動，他把握學習機會，努力爭取受教育的權利，成為家族中第一位上大學的人。他先後就讀於新加坡南洋大學、加拿大薩斯喀徹溫大學（1970年），最終來到蒙特婁的麥吉爾大學深造，並與妻子曉明相識。兩人於第一次約會六個月後即結為連理，共同建立了一段以忠誠、愛與默默堅持為基礎的美滿人生。

福華對植物有著天生的熱愛與天賦，是一位實至名歸的園藝家。凡經他手中所觸，一切生機盎然。他深愛自己的文化根源、自然萬物，以及生活中的點滴美好。他愛唱歌，也愛開玩笑。我們將永遠懷念他那溫暖的笑容與爽朗的笑聲。

家人特別感謝Manoir de l'âge d'or長照中心的全體員工，感激他們給予的細心與關懷；同時也感謝Hôpital Notre-Dame臨終關懷醫療團隊，在他人生最後的時光中，為他帶來平靜與安詳。

追思會將於2025年5月18日（星期日）下午2點至6點，位於蒙特婁Côte-des-Neiges的殯儀館舉行，地址為4525 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges, Montreal, QC, H3V 1E7，屆時親友可前來與家屬一同悼念。