CHAN, Cheung Hing 'Thomas' - Passed away peacefully on October 12, 2021 at Mackenzie Health, Richmond Hill. He was 103 years old.
Cheung Hing was born in Shanghai, China on August 21, 1918, at the end of World War I.
He was the youngest in a family of six sons.
At age 13, he left China for Hong Kong with his mother in pursuit of a more prosperous future.
In 1941, shortly before the Imperial Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, Cheung Hing married Wun Yue Choi at the age of 23.
As the Japanese descended upon Hong Kong, Cheung Hing was injured by shrapnel as they both hid beneath a stairwell to protect themselves from the overhead bombing.
Following the end of World War II, and leaving behind the turmoil in China, Cheung Hing returned to Hong Kong in 1949.
He became an entrepreneur in Hong Kong, owning two laundry stores. When he sold the business, he became a manager at the British American Insurance Company.
He was in that role for several years before becoming a co-founder for another insurance/finance company.
While living in China and Hong Kong, Cheung Hing and Wun Yue had six daughters: Frances, Dorothy, Melinda, Camelia, Ivy and Sally.
In 1983, Cheung Hing and Wun Yue immigrated to Canada, first settling in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, where they lived for two years before moving to Toronto, Ontario.
In his quieter times, he enjoyed playing the erhu (a two-stringed bowed Chinese musical instrument) and watching Chinese opera. He also loved to travel and during his retirement, made many trips abroad with his daughters.Cheung Hing is survived by his five daughters, Frances (David Tang), Dorothy (Hoo Lam Choi), Melinda (late Fred Wong), Ivy (C.Y. Lee) and Sally (Herbert Boyer). He is predeceased by his wife, Wun Yue, and daughter Camelia (Danny Yung). He had 11 treasured grandchildren: Elaine, Denise, Robert, Kevin, Carrie, Tricia, Aaron, Irwin, Sara, Nathan and Kimberly, and 11 great grandchildren: Andrew, Olivia, Sophia, Ava, Alexis, Zoe, Elise, Sebastian, Alexander, Ethan and Isabelle.
The family will be holding a private ceremony in celebration of Cheung Hing’s life.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. To make a donation, please visit Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.
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