Maria Kei Woon Kwan

It is with great sadness that the Kwan family announces the passing of Maria Kei Woon Kwan. Maria passed away peacefully at the Mount St. Joseph Hospital. Maria was born Nov 29th 1929 in Xin Hui, Guangdong Province. She was born to the late Au Sing Sai and Leung Yau Jun. Maria is proceeded by her husband, Kenneth Fon Yun Kwan (d. 2016). They had 7 children together, 16 grandchildren and 8 great grand children. Children with spouses are as follows: Alan (Cindy), Amy (Mervyn), Monita (Keizo), Rabiah (Abdul), Grace (Keith), Byron (Ronnie), Mabel (Cedric). Grandchildren with spouses: Alina, Eva, Victor, Justin; Jason (Marie), Klarissa; Jonathan (Nanako), Andrew (Sarah), Erika(Eric); George(Jacqueline), Christopher(Sunnie); Annika, Emme; Arianna, Louca, Etienne. Great grandchildren: Naomi, Martin, Ingrid, Nolan, Liah, Keira, Cameron and Lauren.

Maria’s family escaped to Hong Kong during the Sino Japanese war at the young age of 9 where she grew up and fostered a seamstress business. She married Kenneth in 1957 at 28. She stayed at home to grow their family together in Hong Kong until they moved to Vancouver.

In Vancouver Maria and her family found a peaceful life where she was able to express her love of her family, travel, food and gardening. She kept her love and care of her garden late into her life and home, constantly working at both. Her love for her family was central to the home and she enjoyed her large family of many children, grand children and eventually great grand children. Despite the radical changes in her circumstances she abused her motto of ‘don’t over think… wait until it happens’. She will be loved and missed by many having been a fixture in both her family and community.

Her funeral service will be at 10 a.m. at the Mount Pleasant Universal Funeral Home, 306 East 11th Ave. for those who wish to send condolences, flowers or attend.