Gary Wong

On Sunday morning, December 8, 2024, Gary Wong passed away peacefully at age 92 after a short illness in Montreal, Quebec. Devoted husband to Lillian (nee Lee, deceased 1997), wonderful father to Eileen and Joanne (Sylvain Dussault), and adored granddad (GoonGoon) to his 2 grandchildren, Stephanie and Alex (Avril Guarino). He was born in Sydney, Nova Scotia to Sun Wong and Sue Lew Pon, both immigrants from Taishan, China. He was a dear brother to 8 siblings (two of which we do not have the names as Gary was the second youngest of 9 children and they passed away young in China), Alan, Lucy, Mary, Mabel and Robert (Bob), and loving uncle to Jana, Audrey (deceased), Gloria and Gilbert.

While Gary was Canadian born and a devoted Cape Breton Islander, he moved to Taishan, China as a young child with his mother, Sue Lew and several siblings including Alan, Lucy, Mabel, Mary and Bob. His father, Sun Wong had started and built a restaurant business in Sydney, Nova Scotia which allowed him to earn enough funds to build a family home and realize his wishes of raising his children back in his Chinese hometown. Gary returned to Canada in 1947 at the age of 14. The early formation of being raised in southern China weathering World War II and the Japanese invasion as well as the happy simple life in his family village in Taishan instilled his life-long interest and passion for his Chinese cultural roots – focused via his love for Chinese history, opera, movies and travels. Gary was extremely proud of his Chinese connections with his myriad of Wong cousins and new friends. He made 26 trips to China from ages 65 to his late 80s and enjoyed every trip as much as the previous one if not more.

Overall, Gary just had a zest for life and people. He had many passions. He loved people and made new friends wherever he went, with his home base of Montreal from the early 1960s. He imbued these passions in his children and grandchildren. An ardent foodie, he also loved nothing more than to cook and bake, a passion garnered from his days as a restaurant owner in Sydney, Nova Scotia and with his move to Montreal in the early 1960s – working at the Sheraton Hotel and Bar-B-Barn. His grandchildren always loved his special birthday cake creations. Alex loved his GoonGoon’s special birthday strawberry shortcake while he and his granddaughter, Stephanie were known for turning out 20-30 apple pies during every MacIntosh apple Fall harvest season. Beyond his passions for all-things China, culinary, travel and people Gary loved team sports and he was a Super Fan of the New York Yankees since the 1950s. It astounded many at how he knew every baseball factoid down to every favorite player’s career RBIs. He was also a diehard lover of old movies and music from the 1940s and 1950s. His favorites were old musicals with the likes of Judy Garland, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as well as the music of Glenn Miller and Bing Crosby.

His family, friends and people he met along the way all saw the good and kindness in Gary – this was his core essence. His niece, Jana Wong commented that he loved her unconditionally and brought light and love to her at a time when she needed it most at her own father’s passing away (Alan, Gary’s eldest brother). We will remember him for being the light in our lives!

Friends and family are invited to Visitation which will take place on Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 9-11 am at the Cote des Neiges Funeral Center - 4525, Chemin de la Cote-des-Neiges in Montreal. Burial will follow afterwards.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Gary Wong to the Montreal General Hospital Foundation - Please follow the link below.