He is good at 3 things. He is good at numbers. He worked as an accountant at his twenties. He was also an accountant for his own business. His accounting setup was professional. He is very good in abacus, as an accountant in the old day. Abacus is regarded as early stage of computer, a computing tool. His hand writing is very neat and easy to read, both in Chinese and English.

 - Grandfather
I will always remember all of our talks and the lessons you've taught me which have guided me through life and I've passed onto my daughters.  One of the talks that stands out was the one after grandmother's passing.  The conversation was about his assessment of life and family via his life's mantra. His life mantra was   meaning a person must be disciplined (through life disciplines) and educated to becoming a useful and successful person (not measured exclusively to stature and money but the worth of person).  Grandfather was a simple and direct man so these six characters is very fitting.   Thank you for all you have given me and the family, you will not be forgotten but remembered by the way we live our lives.

I always knew ah-gong was a wonderful man, and after reading many nice things that others have written, I just have to add a tribute of my own.
Living to be 98 is quite an achievement . In a way, it reminds me of school when sometimes the teacher just doesn't like to give you 100 so you get 98 instead.
And ah-gong's life was not just long, it was exemplary. A man with high principles, and in the best Chinese tradition. Ah-gong knew that sometimes the old ways are still best, and nothing was more important to him than taking care of his family.
He could make us laugh, too.  I remember how funny it was when we went out for dim-sum in that restaurant with mirrors on the walls.  There, he would entertain us by saying, " I wonder who that old man is. He looks so familiar and every time I turn to look at him, he looks right back at me ! "
Yes, we will definitely miss seeing you, ah-gong, but the many things you taught us and the good example you set will always be with us.
Rest in peace !

For a man who was born at the time of the First World War, even before the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, his life was the history of the modern world!
He accomplished what his father was unable to achieve, by bringing his family to North America and built a legacy and prosperity for his descendants.  For those who are fortune enough to live in San Francisco Bay area look out to the China beach, that is where his father tried to reach the Golden Mountain but was unsuccessful. 
My father constantly reminds me of a Chinese proverb; you take turn to be a father, but only once to be the oldest son or oldest brother.  Our grandfather was the walking example of that statement.  He became the man of the house when he was in his teens after his father's passing.  So young, he had a big responsibility, the one who took care of his mom and his siblings.
During the Second World War, Japanese invasion - He was punished by being dragged into chee tong (the place where Chinese villagers keep their ancestral worship), by kneeling on broken glass.  He survived the communist uprising, lived through the Culture Revolution.  After all these hardships, he settled in Hong Kong and with the help of his wife and children, he built a successful business in jewelry; The Yuk-Chuen Jewelry Store.
He never forgot his responsibility to his wife (Ah-poa), 5 siblings, 6 children, 18 grandchildren and now to his great grandchildren.
My first memory of Grand pa was when I lived with them in 1977.  I remember seeing him, every evening in his bedroom, sitting at his desk, tabulating the daily transaction from the jewelry store with his abacus. (For those who have no idea what an abacus is, google it!) He was fast!  When he finished, he closed his books, drank his tea and read his newspaper. In fact, I don't recall, ever seeing him without his newspaper.  He loved his newspaper.  He liked to learn, loved to read; he was a man of knowledge.
One of my best memories living with our Grandparents at the time, was being their designated eater for all the banquets they attended my lucky rewards.  They wanted to make sure that they got their money worth.
Have you ever stared at the end of the gai mo so from grandpa's hand?  If not, consider yourself blessed.  I was much less fortune than Janette when it came to the gai mo so.  Ah-fu and I sure had our fair share from that angle!
I think of our grandpa as a man of a few words.   If there was one word to describe him, it would be non-extreme/ well-balance.  He never did anything excessively.  He never ate too much or too little; never overdressed or underdressed.  Everything had a fine balance in his life. He achieved that!

My memories as a child was every visit to Toronto was a visit to grandpa's apartment. From infant, to toddler, throughout childhood, to teenager and adulthood. Over this time his apartments changed and while I was no exception to changing and growing up, the visits and hospitality still always managed to be constant. 

As a parent I have never lived in Canada and despite wanting to share similar Canadian childhood memories in my own children's upbringing, it's been a challenge. One proud memory I have been able to share and keep constant is that every visit to Toronto would still involve a visit to see grandpa. The warm welcome has never wavered throughout the years for me or my family. Although he didn't speak a terrible amount like he used to, I took the smile on his face as a quiet acceptance of how life had turned out. To be remembered across generations, with many fond vivid memories, is fitting for a man who accomplished everything he wanted. He is leaving a legacy in all those who remember him  the greatest sign of success.

Evening of March 10th, when I was informed about my gong gong's passing, I was quite upset, as he is my last remaining grand parent alive.  I am now, like many other's, have no living grand parents. 

I have many fond memorable memories of my gong gong.  I remember as a child and teenager I felt very special that I was the only grandchild he would address by English name, Janette.  (Is my chinese name so awful to say, ha!?)   

As a child and even now, gong gong and I shared the same savoury taste bud likes.  Whenever we would go to dim sum together,  we were always the only two who would order "ham sui qwok", translate into chinese salty water corner! 

I also remember when we would visit him on Queen street, he and I would walk to 7-11 to buy chips!! When we would come back, either my mom or poa poa would yell at us for buying such "yiet hay"stuff to eat!!  He was my partner in crime as a kid!  We both loved crispy, salty junk food!    

The next time I go for dim sum I will eat two "ham sui qwok", one for him and one for me for good old times!

Back in 1998 I was fortunate enough to live with my poa poa and gong gong when I did a co-op term in Toronto.  Gong gong always had chips around the apartment when I was there!  The days I would come home late, there would always be a plate of leftovers for me!  My gong gong would come out of his room to tell me to heat up the food and eat it!  He would always start off saying, "Ginette, (he never did pronounce my real name Janette), I know you like to eat XXX so we left you or ordered an extra helping xxx."  Most of the time he was dead on!  I always thought this was something special we shared, how he knew my favorite chinese foods!

Lastly, not all my memories of gong gong have to deal with food.  A few memories that come to mind are how he would be my rescuer, stopping my mom from using the "gai mo so", feather duster stick on me, my cheer-leader when i was campaigning with the Liberal Party, my source of income as a kid, whenever we said our good bye's, at the end of our visits that meant red pouches and how he thought my sadly very real buck/rabbit teeth were fake joke teeth one time and insisted i throw them out cuz they make my mouth look deformed!! 

Ahhhh, gong gong, you will be missed!  Your stories and memories will live on! You were admired and loved by many! Thanks for being such a great gong gong!!

Thank you Grampa for everything you did for this family. 

6 kind and hardworking children.
18 generous grandchildren, I get to call cousins. 
And 17 great grandchildren to continue your life's work. 

Rest in peace Grampa. I feel comfort knowing you're by MahMah's side again.

One who will be missed, grandpa was always kind to me. Age 101 a prosperous and blessed life.

My favorite memories will always be the weekends I have spent visiting my grandfather and having dinner with him along with the rest of the family. He will always be in my heart, especially his loving smile that I will never forget.

So very sorry for your loss, Maria and family.  Sending you prayers and good thoughts to remember all the great memories you have.

Grandpa Woo will always hold a special place in my heart. He was always a well dressed man that would never forget to put on his hat before heading out of the house. I'm blessed that I had the opportunity to tell people that Gavin had such a wonderful great grandpa and I wish he got the chance to meet him. Thank you for being with us for as long as you were. My trips to Toronto will never be the same and I'm forever grateful for the times we spent together. Love you!

As I grow older, no matter whose love give me happiness, I will always be my dad little girl, I miss you so much!

He is a traditional Chinese man, with only grade 6 education. In his early life, he struggled to meet ends need while raising 6 children. Amazingly, he became a sucessfully small jewellery busninessman in his middle age, and started living a cozy retirement life in Canada before the age of 60. He has many successful grand children, living in different continents, of different nationalities. What a life!

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Mr. Yuk Chuen Wu

29 juin 1917 – 10 mars 2016

Jerrett Funeral Homes

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