Pah BE

He passed away peacefully at his family home in Toronto due to his years long battle with liver cancer. Just like he dealt with all difficult experiences in life, Saw Pah Be managed his chronic illness with strength and grace, and wanted to spend as much times with his family as possible and on his final day, he was surrounded by his beloved wife, children and grandchildren who he adored more than anything else in the world.

Saw Pah Be was born in Kyat’raw village, Belin township, Doothahtoo district to Saw Maung Hla and Naw Muyeh Peh. He was the oldest of 4 siblings and like other young boys of his generation, he attended traditional schooling in his village monastery.

Due to the untimely death of his mother and the Burmese military’s brutal “four cuts” counter insurgency campaign, he had to leave his birthplace village in his early teens and had to take on adult responsibilities early.

In his early 20s, he met Naw Shai Gay and they fell in love in Koh Law Hta on the site of the family farm, on the bank of the mighty Salween River in Mutraw district and within 2 years, they had started a family, completed with 5 biological children and 1 adopted son. He was a kind and loving family man, and his reassuring presence was a source of wisdom, security, and guidance in his family lives. He managed to lead and provide for his family through political instability and economic hardships in his homeland, uncertain lives in refugee camps in Thailand and finally new beginning in Canada in June 2019.

He was a carpenter, farmer, boat builder, community and camp leader, and a volunteer church elder throughout his life. He was always a servant leader as he served his family, community, his people, and the Lord. He was a camp leader in Mae Khong Kha, Mae La Oo, and Ei Htu Ta refugee camps. He served faithfully as an elder and adviser at Toronto Karen Baptist Church and Karen Community of Toronto until his last breath.

In addition to his wife Naw Shai Gay and his children Saw Jerry Htoo, Naw Sheila Htoo, Naw Jule Anna Htoo, Naw May Ria Hla, Saw Billion Htoo, and an adopted son Saw Thay Htoo (aka Kyaw Poe), Saw Pah Be is survived by his father Saw Maung Hla, his brothers Rev. Mukeedoh (aka Saw Klo Htoo), Saw Po Toe (but missing since teenage year) and his sister Naw Ma Leh.

His funeral service will be held at Delmoro Funeral Home (61 Beverly Hill Dr. Toronto ON M3L 1A2) on Saturday September 17th, 2022 at 11am. There will be visitation at the same location beginning at 9am. His family will be present to welcome his loved ones and friends for the final goodbye.