May King was predeceased by her husband, Chuck Sun Ng (1930 – 1983). She is survived by her sister (May Ling), 4 children (Leamont (spouse: Kim), Janice (spouse: Neil), Hunter, and Shirley), 5 grandchildren (Mark (spouse: Chandal), Alexis, Kurtis, Alan, and Jessica) and 2 great grandchildren (Olivia and Annabelle).
May King will be laid to rest next to her late husband on Tuesday July 7 at 2 p.m. in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Burnaby, BC, after a private, family service in the park chapel.
May King was born in Hoi Ping, China. She was a devoted wife, loving mother, and considerate friend who contributed much to her adopted country. She will be missed by her family, friends, and people who knew her.
May King was born in the village of Chek Hom Hong How in the Hoi Ping area of Guangdong Province, China and came to Canada in her twenties with her husband. They were determined to establish a solid, happy life together here. Filled with her immigrant’s hope, propelled by her tireless work ethic, and guided by her moral strength, she raised a family, carved out a modest living, and was justifiably proud of her accomplishments as a Canadian of Chinese heritage.
When May King came to Canada (first stop, North Battleford, Saskatchewan), she was not very conversant in English, but she made do. She was a wonderful wife, and she fondly raised her 4 children, Leamont, Janice, Hunter, and Shirley with love, trying to instill in them all the virtues she possessed, but also accepting that her children were of their own mind.
After moving to Vancouver in 1962, she acquired a corner grocery store (Jean’s Grocery), which she ran and operated for 15 years. It was a challenging existence, and to make a go of it, she had to open and run the store for long hours everyday (no exceptions) It would be a struggle for anybody, let alone a mother also trying to raise 4 children. But she had strength and resolve, and she maintained a balance between work and home. She provided for her family and never left them wanting for anything that was truly important. She worked hard enough throughout her life to buy her own home in Vancouver.
After selling the store in 1977, she worked at Vancouver International Airport as a Food Preparer of in-flight meals for the airlines. She worked for CP Hotels Flight Kitchen (later, Marriot, and then Cara Food Services). She loved this job at the airport. The idea of being associated with travel and catering to the needs of travellers appealed to a sense of adventure in her. She was intrigued by the meals she was making and by what she was learning of the people of different backgrounds, on foreign airlines, travelling to and from exotic destinations. She took pride and delight in what she was doing. She worked at the airport until her retirement in 1994. She also made lifelong friends while working at the airport, and this was emotionally pleasing to her.
Unfortunately, she never fully exercised her sense of adventure and curiosity. She travelled to eastern Canada and the USA and made a couple of trips back to China. However, she always felt inhibited by her communications skills. Her childhood education in China had been disrupted by the turmoil of the Japanese invasion and Second World War. Her confidence in her ability to communicate could not rise to meet the level of her curiosity. Nevetheless, she loved to read and learn about other countries and cultures. In her retirement, she enjoyed watching travel shows and living vicariously through them.
She also liked to cook, particularly when preparing certain Chinese meals and treats. For leisure, she knitted and was a wiz with a sewing machine. She also enjoyed summer walks, gardening, reading Chinese romance novels, and watching Chinese historical dramas. She loved to chat with friends, and she was always considerate of their needs. Although she became a citizen of Canada (which she loved for what it had given her), she was always proud of her Chinese heritage and faithful to its customs, particularly where family was concerned. As a daughter, she was devoted to her parents; as a mother, she was as devoted to, and supportive of, her children. Even later in life, she would drop everything to respond to them.
Sadly, in the last decade of her life, she had health issues and suffered from dementia. From 2013 onwards, she lived in residential care at Holy Family Hospital.
Her passing leaves an emptiness, but time spent with her will always be fondly remembered and memories of her always cherished.
In lieu of any flowers, please make a donation to any organization that supports people with dementia.
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