Harold Ho Ma

Harold was born October 5, 1927 in Jukao, China and grew up with four siblings to whom he remained dedicated to supporting and frequently returned to visit after settling in Canada in 1972. He is predeceased by his parents, two older sisters and younger sister. Harold is survived by his younger brother and will be warmly remembered by his wife, Ruby, devoted son Frank (Cindy), independent daughter Lily (James) Lau and grandchildren, Kathryn (Robert) Andrais and Justin. Harold will be lovingly respected as a resilient, adaptable grandfather and brother.

Harold highly valued Post-Secondary Education and successfully obtained a Master Degree in Linguistics from Meiji University of Japan. He met and married Ruby in 1958 after escaping China for Taiwan (Republic of China) with many other students as part of the Kuomintang, Nationalist China Party. Harold applied his passion for reading and writing by working as an interpreter for Taiwan and United States of America in Korea during the Korean War and later continued to work at the Embassy in Tokyo, Japan. After he’d adventurously moved his family to Canada in 1971, he worked as an editor at a local Chinese newspaper in Vancouver, then worked hard as an employee of Fletcher Challenge Canada in the Forest Industry for 18 years until retiring on May 1, 1991.

Through his retirement, Harold was a doting grandfather to his two grandchildren, spending time with them in both Calgary, AB as well as Vancouver and Burnaby, BC.

In 2000, Harold and Ruby moved into a condo in Burnaby, BC where Harold was just as active during retirement: walking, swimming, tai chi and calligraphy daily. He also continued pursuing his love for ongoing learning through teaching Justin to play Chinese chess and documenting his family’s history in an autobiographical and self-published book. He enjoyed many hours of playing mahjong with his friends, many of whom were predeceased before him.

Harold spent his final four years in Calgary and was cared for by kind, compassionate Intercare Corporate Group staff. His immediate family deeply appreciate their dedication to maintaining his health, well-being and comfort especially through their heroic efforts during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Harold’s legacy, through his unwavering strength and commitment to always learning, will continue to encourage and inspire those who knew and loved him. Interment will be at Queens Park Cemetery in the summer of 2024.