Betty was born in pre-World War II Hong Kong, China to Harry Lowe and and Yuk Ying (Lillian) Fu.
She lived briefly in Ottawa, Ontario, Boston, USA, Port Hardy, BC and settled in Vancouver BC from 1960-2016.
She passed away suddenly in Vancouver two days before her 80th birthday on August 13, 2016.
She will be lovingly remembered by her sister and brother in law (Cathrine and Dalles Eang),
her two nephews (Hilton and Marchel Eang), her god daughter (Kim Dignan) and her family,
her long time neighbors of over 55 years (Mel & Shirley Yip & Robin & Anita Chan) and the many other very good friends and mah jong peers.
Betty is predeceased by her husband (Jack Eng who suffered a massive heart attack in 1976,
and her parents (Harry Lowe and Fu Yuk Ying (Lillian) Lowe) who owned a restaurant in B.C.'s driest, 'hot spot' (Lytton, B.C.)
from the late 1950s through to 1975.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday August 22, 2016
at Forest Lawn Funeral Home (3789 Royal Oak Avenue, Burnaby) with the interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Betty Eng's name may be made to benefit Mount St. Joseph Hospital's senior care areas
by telephoning the Tapestry Foundation staff at 604.806.9480 during office hours (8:30am to 4:30pm PST) Monday to Friday.
or online http://www.tapestryfoundation.ca/ways-give/give-online-mail-or-phone
Thank you very much for your kind and generous thoughts and actions,
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BETTY'S BIOGRAPHY
Her grandfather (on her dad's side) had worked as a butler to a government official in Victoria, BC in the late 1800s.
Her dad (Harry) had been born in Vancouver, BC in 1911 and in 1935, he flew to Hong Kong to seek out a wife.
He was introduced to Betty's mom and after a very quick courtship, they were married.
Harry flew back to Vancouver to organize and set up a home for his new bride,
but then the war broke out and he was not in touch with his wife and teenage daughter
until October 1951 when a church missionary located him in Ottawa and sent word to Betty's mom of his location.
Teenage Betty flew from Hong Kong to Ottawa to meet her father for the very first time.
It was very clear right from the start, that the word ‘moderation’ would be rarely found in Betty's vocabulary or in her actions.
When she first learned how to drive a car, she promptly crashed her dad's new Chevy!
Betty has always had a voracious appetite for both good food and adventure.
For example, when she was first introduced to white bread, for example,
she was often found consuming a whole loaf with butter and a full glass of milk. )
After living in Ottawa in the early 1950s, Betty studied Psychology at Boston University.
Then her parents decided to migrate west to B.C. to seek their fortune in the land of the 'golden mountains'.
Her parents initially opened a restaurant in Port Hardy, BC and then moved to Lytton, BC to open the Lytton Cafe, which was open from the late 1950s through to 1975, when they retired.
During the days, Betty worked in Vancouver at the Bank of Nova Scotia on East Hastings Street when the area was a very popular and vibrant part of the city and in the evenings, she kept busy modelling beautiful clothing a various events.
While working at the bank, she met some of her life-long friends who now live in Alberta, Ontario & California.
One of her hobbies was playing golf on SW Marine Drive and that’s where her one true sweetheart, Jack Eng,
swept her off her feet and they were married in the Chinese United Church in 1961.
Jack was 15 years her senior and they lived very happily for over 12 years.
After he sold the 'Courtesy Market', (a popular neighborhood grocery store in the heart of Vancouver's Italian town), and retired,
he unexpectedly suffered a fatal heart attack when he dove to hit a tennis ball one afternoon.
He had been playing doubles tennis with 3 medical doctors.
Jack and Betty had both excelled at many sports and she had earned many trophies (e.g. hole-in-one in golf and highest score in bowling.)
The very social couple enjoyed traveling, ballroom dancing, visiting with American entertainers (e.g. Diana Ross & the Supremes, Wayne Newton, etc)
on Tuesday evenings at the Cave Night Club on Hornby Street (Wasserman’s Beat).
As a couple, they hosted and attended many large, weekend social functions throughout the 1960s and 1970s.
Betty had traveled the world many times with Jack and her friends and family.
She loved to exhibit her skills in Poker, Baccarat, Craps, Blackjack and most importantly, Mah Jong which was her longest reigning passion.
She also enjoyed cooking and learning new recipes which she often made for her family and friends.
Betty was a devoted, generous and supportive friend for those she chose to hold dear.
While she was the friend who sometimes told you what you didn’t want to hear, she always had good intentions, and a heart of gold.
It was only in May 2015, that Betty began to experience a series of mini-strokes and then in October 2015, she was diagnosed with Alzheimers as well.
Two days before her birthday, the cardiologist confirmed that her heart had weakened and she had also become anemic as well.
It was very merciful that she had passed away peacefully in her sleep in her private room at the Windermere Care Home, across from VGH.
We will always remember her boisterous & loud laughter and her sage advice, She will be greatly missed by all her friends and family..
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